HARROGATE, Tenn. – Freshman striker Ashlyn Miller provided a spark for the Lady Railsplitters off the bench on Saturday afternoon, scoring the game-winning goal in the 38th minute to lead Lincoln Memorial to a 1-0 triumph over Salem at the LMU Soccer Complex. 
 
Just 48 hours after opening the 2018 campaign with a 4-1 win over Erskine, the Lady Railsplitters had to overcome a sluggish start and a heatwave that reached the mid-90s to move to 2-0 for the second consecutive season. Salem fell to 0-1 in its 2018 opener. 
 
"I thought we did alright today," head coach Sean Fraser said. "In possession at times we were excellent. Some of the football was phenomenal. We controlled the game in transition." 
 
"We could have been better defensively, we could have been better physically and we could have been a little bit more ruthless, but I'm pleased. It's a young team and we are learning good lessons here at the start of the season as you would like to." 
 
Powered by a solid performance from its back three of Lauren Wood, Alyssa Berry and Fabienne Loetscher, as well as junior keeper Ann-Marie O'Connell, who made three saves in the match, the Lady Railsplitters posted their first clean sheet since a 1-0 win over Newberry on October 7, 2017. 
 
Lincoln Memorial accomplished that feat despite finishing with a narrow 15-11 edge in shot attempts, including a 6-3 advantage in shots on goal. Itzel Ballesteros paced LMU with six shots and three shots on goal, while Mariana Diaz and Miller had two shots apiece. 
 
The Lady Railsplitter defense had its hands full with Salem's Tamara Queiroz and Thuto Ramafifi, who combined for all 11 of the Tigers' shot attempts. 
 
"I thought Lauren, Alyssa and Fabienne got a good test today," Fraser said. "Ramafifi is certainly a different type of player to play against, but it's a good experience for them."
 
LMU's offensive attack seemed out of sync throughout much of the first half, when the team was flagged offside six of its nine times in the match. But Fraser pushed the right button when he brought Miller into the game in the 32nd minute. 
 
Just six minutes after her number was called, Miller found herself on the end of a perfect cross from Jessica Steen, and the freshman did the rest by connecting on the first goal of her collegiate career to lift the Lady Railsplitters to victory. 
 
"We have five forwards so why not use them," Fraser said. "They are all good enough if one or two of them aren't firing. We can make changes and go again."
 
Lincoln Memorial's defense held up its end of the bargain down the closing stretch, holding Salem without a shot attempt for the final 20 minutes. 
 
Meanwhile, Caroline Souza nearly provided an insurance goal in the 86th minute in her return to action after suffering a season-ending injury in 2017, but the senior's shot missed wide ride. 
 
The Lady Railsplitters produced a 5-1 edge in corner kicks and outshot the visitors 7-4 in the second half. 
 
Lincoln Memorial will make its first road trip of the season on Wednesday, September 5 with a matchup at Young Harris. Kickoff is set for 5 p.m. in Young Harris, Ga.