HARROGATE, Tenn. – The Lincoln Memorial University women's soccer team dropped a heartbreaker in extra time vs. the Bulldogs of Wingate on Homecoming Saturday, after twice coming back to level the score from one-goal deficits.
 
LMU went to the break down by a goal at the LMU Lacrosse Complex, before the Lady Railsplitters' top offensive threat tallied her ninth goal of the 2021 fall campaign, as senior Rachel Taylor leveled the contest Saturday afternoon early on in the second half. Fellow senior Jessica Cravero's efforts were rewarded for a second goal on the afternoon for the Blue & Grey.
 
Wingate jumped out to an early advantage in Saturday's Homecoming contest, scoring from a direct free kick in the 17th minute, off a superb left-footed strike. The Lady Railsplitter back line and goalkeeper Bente Latenstein did well to prevent the Bulldogs lead from growing in the first half.
 
LMU responded very quickly out of the halftime team talk with head coach Tasha Flynn, as a well-timed cross from captain Mariana Diaz found Rachel Taylor in the six-yard box, where the forward pouched her ninth finish of the campaign in the 49th minute.
 
The Bulldogs again reclaimed the lead just 10 minutes into the second half, but was canceled out quickly in the 59th minute by another Lady Railsplitter equalizer. Senior Jessica Cravero made a dazzling run down the left-hand side of the field into the Wingate box, before her cross was deflected off a defender, into the back of the net for an own goal.
 
LMU and Wingate battled for the remaining half an hour of the contest, before heading into extra time Saturday afternoon. The Bulldogs quickly found the golden goal to decide the South Atlantic Conference clash, as Wingate claimed full points on the afternoon.
 
The Lady Railsplitters remain in the top-five of the SAC standings following Saturday's results, as LMU are now level with Carson-Newman and Lenoir-Rhyne on 12 points. Catawba and Queens are currently gridlocked at the summit on 15 points.
 
Up Next
 
The Lady Railsplitters remain in Harrogate for their next South Atlantic Conference matchup against Carson-Newman on Wednesday Oct. 13. Kickoff is scheduled for 12:30 p.m. EST.

How to Follow
 
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 across the 2021 season.