JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. – The Lincoln Memorial women's soccer team is set to play in its first NCAA tournament match in 11 years on Friday morning when they square off against Lander in the first match of the NCAA Division II Southeast Regional at Harvey Stadium in Jefferson City, Tenn. 
 
Lincoln Memorial (14-4) earned its way into the NCAA tournament by claiming the program's first South Atlantic Conference tournament championship since 2007 last weekend. The Lady Railsplitters defeated Queens 2-1 in overtime in the quarterfinals and Lenoir-Rhyne 2-0 in the semifinals to secure their first trip to the SAC finals since 2013. LMU then capped it off with a convincing 3-1 win over No. 16 Carson-Newman on Sunday at Manchester Meadows in Rock Hill, S.C. 
 
Lander (12-2-2) will be making the first NCAA tournament appearance in program history, as the Bearcats finished second in the Peach Belt Conference with a 7-2-1 league record. 
 
The Lady Railsplitters and Bearcats are a combined 11-0-1 over their last 12 matches. Lincoln Memorial has won six consecutive games since its last loss on October 17, while Lander had won five straight before drawing with Georgia College in the PBC quarterfinals.
 
The winner of the Lincoln Memorial/Lander match earns the right to face either Carson-Newman or Catawba in the Southeast Regional semifinals on Sunday. 
 
The Basics 
 
Friday, November 9 vs. Lander (Jefferson City, Tenn.) – 11am
Live Stats
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Southeast Regional Central 
NCAA tournament bracket 
 
Quick Hits 
 
- Jessica Cravero scored two goals while Itzel Ballesteros added a goal and an assist to lead the Lady Railsplitters in their 3-1 win over Carson-Newman in the SAC title game. Cravero was tabbed as the SAC Championship Most Valuable Player, while Ballesteros, Daisy Drake and Rachel Taylor also earned All-Tournament plaudits.
 
- Lincoln Memorial is 9-1 over its last 10 matches and has outscored its opponents by a cumulative 22-4 margin during that stretch. 
 
- The Lady Railsplitters lead the SAC and rank 34th in the nation in goals against average with a 0.77 mark. Additionally, LMU is tops in the SAC in shutout percentage (55.6) and save percentage (83.1). That effort is led by junior goalie Ann-Marie O'Connell and first-team All-SAC center back Alyssa Berry. 
 
- Cravero and Ballesteros are one of the most dangerous scoring duos in the nation. Cravero – the SAC Freshman of the Year – has compiled 17 goals and four assists, ranking 13th nationally in goals and 14th in goals per match. All-SAC first team pick Ballesteros has racked up 11 goals and 11 assists to rank 12th in the nation in assists and 16th in assists per game. 
 
- The Lady Railsplitters landed six players on the All-SAC squad. In addition to first-team picks Cravero, Ballesteros and Berry, midfielder Mariana Diaz was also named to the first team. Midfielder Maria Hernandez and defender Fabienne Loetscher were second team honorees. 
 
- Second-year head coach Sean Fraser was pegged as the SAC Coach of the Year after leading the Lady Railsplitters to a regular-season runner-up performance. Lincoln Memorial was picked ninth in the preseason conference poll and is just two seasons removed from a 3-10-2 effort during the 2016 season. 
 
- The Lady Railsplitters' longest postseason run came during the 2004 season when they made a trip to the national quarterfinals 
 
- Lincoln Memorial has just one prior meeting against Lander way back in 2006. The Lady Railsplitters won that matchup 3-1. 
 
Know the Opponent 
 
- Prior to being shut out by Georgia College in the PBC quarterfinals, Lander had scored at least two goals in five straight matches. Over that same span, the Bearcats allowed just four total goals during a five-match winning streak. 
 
- Lander averages 2.13 goals per match as five different players have contributed at least three goals. Emily Jermstad (7 goals, 10 assists) and Brianna Taylor (9 goals, 6 assists) lead the team with 24 points apiece, while Juliette Vidal has added nine goals and four assists. Kelcie Fisher and Chole Le Franc have three goals apiece. 
 
- The Lander defense has accounted for six shutouts and allowed 0.9 goals per match. 
 
- Jermstad, Le Franc, Taylor and Victoria Lange were each selected to the All-PBC second team. Midfielder Lange is one of only two seniors on the Lander roster. 
 
- Sophomore goalkeeper Sarah Owen has started all 16 matches for the Bearcats, compiling a 0.92 goals against average with an .813 save percentage. She has had a hand in all six shutouts. 
 
- Lander and Lincoln Memorial have played six common opponents this season in Mars Hill, Newberry, Wingate, USC Aiken, Young Harris and Erskine. The Bearcats went 6-0 against that group with a combined scoring margin of 17-1 and four shutouts. The Lady Railsplitters went 5-1 against those teams with a margin of 14-3 and four shutouts. The Lady Railsplitters suffered a 2-0 early-season loss at Young Harris, while Lander beat the Mountain Lions 3-0. 
 
- Lander is led by 13th-year head coach Chris Ayer, who is the winningest coach in program history with 119 victories.