GREENEVILLE, Tenn. – The next four days are shaping up to be the most important in Lincoln Memorial women's lacrosse program history.
 
The Lady Railsplitters are in the middle of a logjam for the number three and four spots in the South Atlantic Conference standings and the opportunity to host a quarterfinal playoff match. If LMU (9-5, 3-3 SAC) can win its next two games against Tusculum and Newberry it will greatly improve its chances of occupying one of the home slots.
 
First up on the agenda for Lincoln Memorial is a visit to Greeneville on Wednesday and a game against the Tusculum Pioneers (4-9, 2-3 SAC). Saturday LMU will close out its SAC schedule with a game against cellar dwelling Newberry. 
 
"We haven't spoken about these next two games as far as the conference tournament," said Head Coach Caitlyn Corace. "We are just focused on this next game. We know we need to win these next two games because if we lose them we will be in a little bit of hot water. For now we are focused on what we have to do to beat Tusculum."
 
LMU will be looking to snap a three game losing streak having dropped games to Wingate, UIndy and Lenoir-Rhyne. Wingate and Catawba are two of the teams vying for a home tournament opener with LMU.
 
Tusculum enters the contest following a 22-19 loss to Coker last Saturday. The Pioneers are giving up an average of 16 goals per game overall, and 18 goals a game versus SAC opponents.
 
"We've had our struggles putting the ball in the back of the net the last couple of games," Corace said. "They are a young team so I think that plays into those numbers a little bit."
 
The Pioneers are led offensively by 55-goal scorer Juliette Cusano.
 
"We have to keep the ball away from her," pointed out Corace. "She's huge for them on the draw as well, so she is someone we definitely have to keep an eye on. She is their key player and was last year. She killed us last year so we have to make sure we keep her in check and not let her take over the game."
 
During the three-game losing streak, the LMU offense has had trouble scoring goals. Leading scorer Erin DePaul, 40 goals, has been kept in check as has 30-goal scorer Kelly Csenar.
 
"I hope we have learned something from these last three games and what we have to take away from them," Corace said. "Hopefully the experience against those teams will help us this week.
 
"It has been tough and we've got some bumps and bruises," Corace said in reference to the three-game losing streak. "We talked about keeping our heads up. It would be a disservice to the girls to not play tough teams because they need to know what it takes to play the tough games and be mentally prepared."
 
With two conference games remaining and an out of conference game against North Greenville University closing out the season, Corace is prepping the team for tournament competition.
 
"We know this is the last stretch of our regular season," she commented. "We have to buckle up, prepare and make sure we are mentally ready."
 
Game time is set for 1 p.m. Live stats and video links are available at www.lmurailsplitters.com.