COLUMBUS, Ohio - The Lincoln Memorial University men's soccer team played their second exhibition of the 2021 season Saturday morning, narrowly losing 1-0 on a last-gasp winner from the U-23 Columbus Crew squad.
 
A massive learning opportunity against quality opposition presented itself Saturday in Columbus, and the Railsplitter squad did not disappoint. LMU took the MLS's U-23 side to the brink before the Crew scored a 93rd-minute winner on the last play of the match.  
 
"We had three or four massive chances that we couldn't convert, but we'll continue to work, and that side of the game will come around," head coach Robert Spain said. "All in all, for us to control that level of a game, and having it be such a tight contest, it is a big positive that we were capable of winning. This was a very high-level preseason matchup, and it'll serve us well heading into the preseason."
 
Spain's squad will travel to Charleston on Aug. 28 to take on the defending NCAA DII National Champions for one final preseason tune-up, and then will begin the regular season in Montevallo against the Falcons on Sept. 2. The Railsplitters return home for the second match of the regular season on Sept. 5 against West Alabama in Harrogate.
 
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