NEWBERRY, S.C. – Jessica Cravero's 27^th-minute goal was all the Lincoln Memorial University women's soccer team would need as the Lady Railsplitters (11-4, 7-3 SAC) concluded their regular season with a 1-0 win at Newberry (7-8-1, 2-7-1 SAC) Saturday afternoon at the Smith Road Complex.

The win solidifies LMU's second-place finish in the South Atlantic Conference standings. The team tied with Lenoir-Rhyne at 21 points, though the Lady Railsplitters hold the tiebreaker by virtue of a 2-1 win over the Bears on October 13.

Cravero's score came off a failed clear attempt from a Newberry defender as a Daisy Drake pass intended for Cravero bounced off the defender and directly to her. Cravero then dribbled just inside the box and found an opening in the bottom right of the net for her 14^th score of the year.

The Lady Railsplitters nearly added another goal in the 80^th minute on a header off a corner kick, but the play was ruled offside.
Lincoln Memorial outshot Newberry 23-6, including an 8-2 edge in shots on goal. The team also attempted six corner kicks to Newberry's three. Rachel Taylor registered career highs with seven shot attempts and three on goal while Cravero added six shots and two on goal. Jessica Steen also had a career-high three shots and two on goal.

Ann-Marie O'Connell made two saves as the team posted its league-leading ninth shutout of the season, which is tied for the third-most in program history. The Lady Railsplitters' SAC-leading goals against average improved to 0.80 with the win, which is the third-best mark in program history behind only the 1997 and 1998 teams. O'Connell improved her record to 11-4. The 11 wins are tied for the second-most in program history.

Daphne Heyaime took four of Newberry's six shot attempts, including both that landed on goal. Emma Harms had the team's other two shots. The Wolves went over 40 minutes without a shot in the second half before Heyaime had two in the final three minutes. The first was saved while the other was blocked. 

Lincoln Memorial qualified for the SAC Tournament for the first time since 2015 and will host a quarterfinal match for the first time since 2014. The Lady Railsplitters will face Queens, who the team beat 1-0 on October 24.
 

Quick Hits
 
- Cravero's 14 goals are the most by an LMU player since Sarah Taylor netted 13 in 2009. She finishes the regular season tied for second in the SAC. Her 4.80 shot attempts per game rank second in program history.

 - O'Connell's 0.86 goals against average ranks as the second-best mark in program history.

- LMU improves to 8-6-2 in the all-time series over Newberry. The win was Lincoln Memorial's first in Newberry since 2014.
 
 
Up Next
 
The LMU Soccer Complex will see postseason action on the women's side for the first time since 2014 on Tuesday, October 30 when LMU hosts Queens at 2 p.m. in a SAC Tournament quarterfinal match.