AIKEN, S.C. – The Lincoln Memorial University women's soccer team aims to bounce back from its first loss of the season on Sunday when the Lady Railsplitters (2-1) take on the USC Aiken Pacers (1-2) at the Pacer Pit. 
 
Despite dominating possession and the shot chart, the Lady Railsplitters' season-opening, two-match winning streak was snapped in a 2-0 loss at Young Harris on Wednesday. USC Aiken, meanwhile, picked up its first win of the season on Wednesday with a 1-0 home victory over North Greenville. 
 
The Basics 
 
Sunday, September 9 at USC Aiken (1pm)
Live Stats
Video
Twitter
 
Quick Hits
 
- The Lady Railsplitters outshot Young Harris in both halves and finished with a 16-10 advantage in total, but a pair of goals from Baylee Roche in the 42nd and 81st minutes propelled the Mountain Lions to victory. It marks the second straight season that Young Harris handed Lincoln Memorial its first loss of the year. 
 
- Itzel Ballesteros led the way with five shots and four shots on goal, while Mariana Diaz had three shots with a shot on goal. Jessica Cravero and Caroline Souza chipped in two shot attempts apiece in the loss. 
 
- For the season, the Lady Railsplitters are averaging 17.0 shots per match compared to 9.7 for opponents. However, opponents have a 41.4 shots on goal percentage compared to LMU's 39.2 percent mark. 
 
- Ballesteros leads the Lady Railsplitters with six points on two goals and two assists. She also paces the team in shots (17) and shots on goal (11). Cravero is second on the team in total shot attempts with 11, but has yet to record a goal, assist or shot on goal in her three appearances. Diaz, Maria Hernandez and Ashlyn Miller have accounted for LMU's other three goals. 
 
- The Lady Railsplitters have been particularly dominant in the first half of matches this season, outshooting their opponents by a combined 33-16 margin. The gap closes substantially in the second half, though, when LMU is only holding an 18-13 shooting edge. 
 
- Lincoln Memorial is aiming to hit the 3-1 mark for the second consecutive season. 
 
- Newcomers have played a big role for the Lady Railsplitters so far this season. Five new faces – Ballesteros, Hernandez, Jessica Steen, Fabienne Loetscher and Lauren Wood – have stated every match and played over 240 minutes, while newcomers Cravero and Daisy Drake have appeared in all three matches. Ann-Marie O'Connell has also started all three matches in goal for the Lady Railsplitters in her debut season. 
 
Know the Opponent
 
- The Pacers dropped a pair of matches against South Atlantic Conference foes to open the season, falling 2-1 at Mars Hill and 1-0 in overtime against Catawba. USC Aiken snapped that season-starting, two-match losing streak in Wednesday's win over North Greenville. 
 
- The Pacer offense has accounted for just 0.67 goals and 12.3 shots per match, though they currently boast a remarkable 62.2 shots on goal percentage. USC Aiken has gotten off to a strong defensive start, holding opponents to 1.00 goals and 13.7 shots per match. 
 
- Monica Armendariz and Yasmine Vanden-Bossche have accounted for the two USC Aiken goals, while Lauryn Laslie has the only other point with an assist. Armendariz leads the team with 10 shots and six shots on goal, while Willa Olson has produced seven shots and four shots on goal without converting. 
 
- Makenzie Cude has started all three matches in goal, accumulating a 0.98 goals against average and an .842 save percentage with 16 saves. She had her best performance of the young season against North Greenville by posting a shutout with five saves. 
 
- USC Aiken was picked ninth in the Peach Belt Conference preseason poll after struggling to a 4-13 finish in 2017. 
 
- The Pacers recorded season-highs for shots (15), shots on goal (10) and corner kicks (4) in Wednesday's win over North Greenville. 
 
Head-to-Head
 
- The Lady Railsplitters improved to 5-1 all-time against USC Aiken with a 2-1 win last season at the LMU Soccer Complex. Prior to that matchup, the Pacers defeated Lincoln Memorial in a 2-1 overtime thriller in Aiken, S.C. in October 2013. 
 
- Despite being outshot 17-10, the Lady Railsplitters scored in the 33rd and 82nd minutes to power a 2-1 win over USC Aiken last season to start 3-0. Souza led LMU with three shots in the match. Marissa Lee scored the lone goal for the Pacers.