WILLIAMSBURG, Ky. – Looking for the best start in program history, the Lincoln Memorial men's lacrosse team is set to host Shorter on Friday night at the University of the Cumberlands' James H. Taylor, II Stadium at 7 p.m. Friday's match was originally intended to be the Railsplitters' (4-1) 2018 LMU Lacrosse Complex debut but rain and unplayable field conditions forced the move to the turf field in Williamsburg, Ky.
 
Lincoln Memorial will be trying to start 5-1 for the first time in the program's four-season history and extend its winning streak to three games, while Shorter (1-4) aims for its second win of the season and to bounce back from a 17-6 pummeling at the hands of Mars Hill last Saturday.
 
Schedule / Game Day Links:
 
Friday, March 2 vs. Shorter (7pm) – Live Stats
 
Quick Hits:
 
- The Railsplitters blasted Dominican 17-4 last Saturday in Wantagh, N.Y. to reach 4-1 for the second consecutive season. Lincoln Memorial dominated every phase of that match, outshooting the Chargers 38-25, including a 28-14 edge in shots on goal. The Railsplitters opened the match on a 4-0 scoring run and added a 7-0 flurry that bridged the second and third quarters to power the victory.
 
- Eight different players tallied multiple points in the winning effort against Dominican. Kyle Arcuri led the way with four assists to push his season point total 19, while Adam Golia had two goals and an assist to extend his SAC-leading point total to 35. Khanan Bodley scored a career-best three goals as well and now ranks third on the team in that department with eight for the season.
 
- Behind its 4-1 start, the Railsplitters are up to No. 22 in the current LaxPower.com computer rankings. Lincoln Memorial is one of only two South Atlantic Conference teams with just one loss this season along with defending SAC champions Lenoir-Rhyne.
 
- Lincoln Memorial leads the SAC in goals, assists, goals per game and face-off percentage. The Railsplitters have averaged 14.6 goals per game and 45.8 shots per contest. The defense is taking care of business, too, allowing only 9.00 goals per game. The Railsplitters have also caused 50 turnovers, the second-highest mark in the league.
 
- The Railsplitters have been dominant in the second and third quarters this season. Over the course of the first five matches, LMU has combined to outscore its opponents 40-18 and outshoot its opponents 128-83 in those two quarters.
 
- Senior defender Josh Hernandez is having a quietly solid season as he ranks second on the team with 17 groundballs and ranks second in the SAC with 11 caused turnovers. In addition to that, he scored his only goal on his only shot attempt of the season.
 
- The Railsplitters throttled Shorter 15-6 in last season's meeting in Rome, Ga. LMU outshot the Hawks 47-25 with a commanding 34-12 advantage in shots on goal. Golia and Arcuri led the way with 12 combined points, while Robert Tucker scored two goals and handed out an assist.
 
Know the Opponent:
 
- Mars Hill opened on a 10-0 run to obliterate Shorter 17-6 on Saturday in Rome, Ga. That was the third double-digit goal loss of the season for the Hawks, who were also crushed by North Greenville 22-5 and Tusculum 24-7.
 
- The Hawks have been outscored by a combined margin of 88-46 this season. That disparity would be much worse if not for an 18-12 win over Emmanuel on February 21.
 
- Chase Rogers leads the Hawks with 13 points on five goals and eight assists. Logan Miller and Jacob Woodard have 10 points apiece, as Miller has produced nine goals and one assist to pair with Woodard's six goals and four assists. Tate Tatum is second on the team in goals with eight, while Jordan Coates has chipped in six goals and three assists.
 
- Garry Robinson has started in goal for all five matches this season. Over a span of nearly 160 minutes, Robinson has allowed 43 goals and a 16.17 goals against average with a .482 save percentage. His backup, Richard Ticer, hasn't fared much better with 45 goals allowed and a 19.22 goals against average over 140 minutes of work.
 
- The Hawks are a miserable 0-12 all-time against SAC opponents.
 
- Shorter has a meager .389 face-off percentage. The Hawks are also clearing at a lowly .843 mark.