HARROGATE, Tenn. – Hoping to play its first match this season at the LMU Lacrosse Complex, the Lincoln Memorial men's lacrosse team seeks to break the program's single-season wins record on Saturday with a South Atlantic Conference matchup against Catawba.
 
The Railsplitters (8-1, 2-0 SAC), who were supposed to face Mars Hill on Wednesday until that match was postponed by snow and unsafe travel conditions, currently boast the longest active winning streak in the league with a program-record six straight wins dating back to a 13-4 victory over Walsh on February 17. Lincoln Memorial moved to 2-0 in SAC play for the first time in program history last Saturday with a nail-biting 14-13 triumph over Queens.
 
Catawba (4-4, 2-1 SAC) had won three consecutive matches until that streak was snapped with a 12-5 loss at Wingate on Wednesday. The Indians are currently tied for third place in the SAC standings.
 
Schedule / Game Day Links:
 
Saturday, March 23 vs. Catawba (2pm) – Live Stats
 
Quick Hits:
 
- The Railsplitters raced out to a 9-1 lead midway through the second quarter and held on down the stretch to top the Queens Royals for the second year in a row on Saturday in Williamsburg, Ky. Freshman Chris Tucker led Lincoln Memorial with four goals, including the two game-sealing goals in the final six minutes, to earn AstroTurf SAC Offensive Player of the Week honors. Freshman goalie Michael Kessler made a career-high 17 saves in the win to garner AstroTurf SAC Defensive Player of the Week plaudits.
 
- With the win on Saturday, the Railsplitters, who are once again receiving votes in this week's USILA poll, matched the program single-season wins record of eight set by the 2017 squad. A win on Wednesday would give Lincoln Memorial the first nine-win season in program history.
 
- Prior to this season, the Railsplitters had never started SAC play with two straight wins. In fact, Lincoln Memorial lost at least its first two conference matches in each of the program's first three seasons. A win on Wednesday would already put the Railsplitters within range of qualifying for the SAC tournament. Last season, four SAC wins were enough to make the postseason, while it only took three in 2016 and 2015.
 
- Adam Golia has accounted for at least three points in all nine matches this season with at least six points in six matches. The senior leads the SAC in assists (25) and points (59) and ranks second in goals with 34. He has already broken the program's single-season record for points and assists and needs just six more goals to become the first player to score 40 in a season in program history.
 
- The Railsplitters continue to lead the SAC in nearly every significant statistical category, including scoring offense (16.67), scoring defense (8.11), shooting percentage (35.4) and caused turnovers (120). Lincoln Memorial leads the country in assists per game with 10.89 and ranks in the top five in caused turnovers per game, groundballs per game, points per game, scoring offense and scoring margin.
 
- Senior Josh Hernandez is seventh in the SAC in groundballs per game with 3.89. Will Britt is also in the top 20 in the league in that department with 2.67.
 
- The Railsplitters' six-game winning streak is the second-longest active streak in the nation behind Young Harris' eight-game streak.
 
- Lincoln Memorial hopes the weather cooperates and allows the team to play its first match at the LMU Lacrosse Complex in 2018. Weather has forced the Railsplitters to play three home matches in Williamsburg, Ky.
 
Know the Opponent:
 
- All four of Catawba's losses this season have come against teams that are either currently ranked or previously ranked in the USILA poll. The Indians opened the season with road losses at No. 10 Belmont Abbey and No. 12 Mount Abbey and suffered a 14-13 overtime loss to receiving votes Florida Southern. Wingate was also previously ranked in the top 25 poll.
 
- Catawba battered Newberry 13-9 and Coker 14-8 to win its first two SAC matches of the year.
 
- The Indians sport the SAC's third-best scoring offense with 12.5 goals per match. They have been much less effective on the defensive end, though, allowing the third-most goals per match with 11.80.
 
- Joe Barber and Dalton Cook lead Catawba with 28 points apiece and identical stat lines of 18 goals and 10 assists. Cole Fanzo has also contributed 18 goals and is second on the team with 21 points. Chase Scott (12) and Liam Lynch (10) has produced double-digit goals as well.
 
- Sophomore Kevin Geiger has started seven of the team's eight matches in goal. Over that span, Geiger has accounted for 82 saves, an 11.09 goals against average and a 51.2 save percentage.
 
- Catawba is 1-3 on the road compared to 3-1 at home this season. In home matches, the Indians are scoring 17.00 goals per match and allowing just 10.36. Those numbers change dramatically on the road where Catawba scores just 8.00 goals per match and allows 13.26.
 
Series History:
 
- Lincoln Memorial is still seeking its first win over Catawba. The Indians have won all three meetings by scores of 11-7 in 2015, 12-3 in 2016 and 13-12 in 2017.
 
- In last season's one-goal loss to the Indians, the Railsplitters had a 12-8 lead early in the fourth quarter but Catawba closed on a 5-0 run to steal the victory. Golia had five goals while Kyle Arcuri had four to lead the charge for LMU offensively.