HARROGATE, Tenn. — Little time was wasted from the No. 14-ranked Lincoln Memorial University women's soccer team Tuesday afternoon.
 
Just over a minute in, Rachel Taylor took the rebound from her deflected shot and lifted it over to Itzel Ballesteros as the senior's header began the five-goal first half onslaught and eventual 6-0 home-opening victory over Converse College at the LMU Soccer Complex.
 
The dominate offensive attack saw five different scorers — Ballesteros, Jessica Cravero (2), Taylor, Theoni Zervas and Navie Webb — connect for the Lady Railsplitters' second straight six-goal, shut-out performance that is paving to be a real problem for opponents. LMU (2-0) recorded 35 total shots with 23 on goal while Converse (0-2) had just two with neither on target.
 
"We want it to be," said LMU head coach Sean Fraser of the offense's dominance. "We were recruiting Theoni for a year and a half and you can see why today. Literally, a year in a half, and obviously Ermelinda Pantalaeo, as well, it starts with her every time.
 
"We have a threat down the right, down the left, through the middle and over the top, in behind and everything and that's what you want to do. If you are a good team, you better have those threats."
 
Holding the possession for 66 percent of the match, it's safe to say LMU has its handful of threats — both offensively and defensively following back-to-back 6-nil victories.
 
At the 14:39-minute mark, Cravero collected a rocket-of-a-grounder from Zervas in the middle, scooting it across the grass and into the net for the two-goal lead. Taylor was next as she scored her fourth goal already in a pair of games, this one unassisted in the 28th minute to push the advantage to three and continue her tear on the pitch so far.
 
"In the spring the coaches work with us really hard individually," said Taylor in response to what has set her up for success. "Sean set me up with a really good team to play with over the summer, and I think coming back in the second year, I was more confident to take shots and runners, but it definitely isn't an individual effort. The whole team goes into it. From the back line to the midfielders and forwards, even the goalkeeper, everyone — it's a team effort so I can't take credit for just myself."
 
Taylor's step to the next level has made those around her that much better as have the newcomers like Zervas, who found pay dirt for the first time as a Lady Railsplitter, via a ball from Ballesteros at the 37th-minute mark.
 
Cravero then casually ended the first half with her third score of the season and second of the day, placing the fifth point on the scoreboard just before the 43rd minute approached.
 
Important Minutes
 
After halftime, Fraser basically made a wholesale change across the board, subbing in some veteran players with a mix of freshmen and sophomores to get them some in-game action.
 
It took the group until the 84th minute to find the back of the net, but Fraser saw more than just a score.
 
"Good energy, and I think tactically they did some good things," he said. "Technically, they have to do a little bit better but it's great because we got a lot of these kids 30 to 60 minutes, and it's good for their benefit. … I care about the strategy and the discipline doing the right things tactically because whenever we play against a really good team and they have to come on, they are going to have to stick to the strategy then.
 
"I was really happy and really encouraged. Again, I think the young players have to tidy up and sharpen up, but I'm encouraged."
 
It was the freshman Webb who capped off the dominate home opener, taking an assist from Lexi Bearden, out-running the Valkyries and sinking her first career goal past the goalkeeper to show the Lady Railsplitters' depth and capability is atop their strengths.
 
"We know what we are chasing after, so we have a reason to do what we do, a reason to be as fit as we are," Taylor said. "We know it's a very competitive team, even our subs are great players. We are always trying our best to be our best. … We know what we are capable of, and we are ready to show it to everyone who's watching us."
 
Moving Up
 
Mid-match, the United Soccer Coaches National rankings were released, having the Lady Railsplitters at No. 14, which is five spots higher than the preseason poll had LMU. Full Rankings
 
The start to the season has proved LMU's placement, but the third-year head coach wants to make sure his players continue to focus on the day-to-day so LMU can continue to climb the ranks.
 
"We just want to keep the kids grounded," Fraser said. "Our message to them was, 'Yes, you're No. 14 but don't be happy with that.' We are going to keep working on the mentality."
 
Early Test
 
The Lady Railsplitters' weekend test is a big one. First, LMU will face Georgia College (0-2) at 8 p.m. Friday before finishing the Bobcat Shootout against West Georgia (1-1) at noon Sunday.
 
It's a road trip that Fraser has wanted to schedule for a while with the idea of allowing his team to gain real postseason experience and now adding onto the one it got last season after making it all the way to the Sweet 16. The full tournament page can be viewed HERE.
 
"It's big. Always every year I say I want to get one in during the season where we play on a Friday and a Sunday because that's what you do when you go to nationals," he said. "I want to at least prepare the team for it, especially on the road because if and when you're at nationals, you're on the road and stay three nights in a hotel. It's advantage to do that and it's obviously two good games.
 
"Georgia College was ranked in the top 15 all last year and fell out, and West Georgia who had a decent year last year and won last week. It's going to be a good test mentally as much as it is physically. It's going to be a test for the coaches to prepare players in between  — excited all around; really excited."
 
Stay tuned to LMURailsplitters.com, as well as LMU's social media platforms —@LMURailsplitter on Twitter, @LMURailsplitters on Facebook and @lmurailsplitters on Instagram — for complete coverage of Lady Railsplitter soccer through the 2019 season.
 
-LMU-