YOUNG HARRIS, Ga. — It wasn't the start the Lincoln Memorial University men's soccer team envisioned Saturday, but the Railsplitters didn't go down without a fight.
 
After fifth-ranked Young Harris College (4-0) spotted three first-half goals compared to LMU's one, the Railsplitters regrouped at intermission and held their own.
 
Ueslei Silva brought LMU within a goal in the 72nd minute, but 10 minutes later the Mountain Lions sliced in an insurance goal that eventually handed LMU (1-1-1) its first loss of the season, 4-2, on the YHC Lacrosse & Soccer Field.
 
The start to the region clash was halted by a lightning delay that lasted a few minutes over an hour and a half. Even after the first whistle, the Railsplitters' fortune didn't get any better.
 
In the first minute, LMU was called for a foul in the box, giving Young Harris an instant penalty kick to start a match the Railsplitters' owned a two-game winning streak and 3-1 series advantage in.
 
Senior Mikie Rowe, who came in with five goals through three matches, got the nod and cashed in the PK for a quick 1-0 lead.
 
The Railsplitters didn't blink, battling for possession as Miguel Reis corralled a pass and sent it over the middle. Matteo Bufalo was there on the receiving end, making contact by sliding into the ball for the game-tying score at the 15-minute mark.
 
It was Rowe, again, for the Mountain Lions as he took the rebound from Kevin Coiffic off a corner kick, keeping it alive before sticking it through the right side in the 26th minute for the 2-1 advantage.
 
The match was very physically driven as both teams combined for 43 fouls and five yellow cards. It showed when LMU was called for another foul in the box, which gave Rowe another shot in a one-on-one situation with goalkeeper Caleb Cothrin.
 
Rowe punched his hat trick ticket, with his third and final goal of the night, at the 41-minute mark for a 3-1 halftime lead.
 
The Railsplitters kept the Mountain Lions quiet in the second half, maintaining the pace of play and coming within a goal when Silva sliced in his first goal of the season in the 72nd minute off a long throw-in into the box.
 
Unfortunately for LMU, Young Harris kept its composure and added a late insurance goal. Carols Gomez winded up one of the Mountain Lions' seven shots on goal that Cothrin swatted away before Sondre Olgen kicked through the 82-minute goal to halt LMU's second-half comeback.
 
The Railsplitters look to bounce back in a mid-week matchup with King University at 3 p.m. Wednesday.