Harrogate, TN - Three days after falling on the road to 3rd-ranked Newberry, the Lincoln Memorial field hockey team was back in action on Saturday, playing host to the Belmont Abbey Crusaders for its "Blue Out" game. The Railsplitters entered the contest with an overall record of 4-7, including a 1-4 mark in conference play. The Crusaders amassed a 5-4 record, posting a 5-2 clip in conference play to this point in the season. Saturday's contest was the fourth all-time meeting between Lincoln Memorial and Belmont Abbey. The Crusaders had taken the three previous match ups, winning one game in Harrogate, one game in Belmont, NC, and the other at a neutral site at Davidson College in 2023. Last year at in Harrogate, Belmont Abbey took a 3-1 decision. Saturday's game was be the first of two matches played between the teams this season. Following Saturday's game, Lincoln Memorial and Belmont Abbey will play again three days later in Belmont, NC. 

Both defenses came to play in the first half. Although the teams combined for five penalty corners in the first period, neither was able to find the back of the cage, leaving the score knotted at goose eggs at the first horn. Opportunities became scarce in the second quarter. Belmont Abbey saw two penalty corner opportunities, but thanks to the Lincoln Memorial defense, was unable to  capitalize, leaving the game in a scoreless tie at the half, 0-0. Both teams began the second half fervently, but the third quarter mirrored the previous three, seeing the score remain 0-0 heading into the final frame. The final frame was as tight as the rest of the game, with neither finding the back of the cage, seeing the game move into overtime. The overtime period was as equally competitive as the rest of the game. With just over 30-seconds remaining in the overtime period, Belmont Abbey found the back of the cage to steal a 1-0 overtime victory in Harrogate.

The Railsplitters will have a chance to exact their revenge in three days in Belmont, NC.