Bluefield, WV – The Lincoln Memorial women's soccer team defeated the Bluefield State Big Blue Wednesday evening

The Railsplitters began the offensive threats quick into the match as Viktoria Filsner fired off a shot in the 5^th minute and Camden Prosser in the 12^th minute, both saved by the Big Blue goalkeeper.

LMU's defense was strong as Bluefield State's first shot wasn't until the 20^th minute, but it was off target.

Three quick shots were taken in the 22^nd minute as Edie Wilds, Donna van der Zalm, and Wilds again took a shot, which were blocked, high, and saved, respectively. Ellie Snyder followed quickly after with a shot of her own on frame in the 24^th minute, which was also saved by the Bluefield goalkeeper.

Possession remained in the Railsplitter's offensive third as Filsner put one on frame in the 28^th minute, saved.

Both teams were able to get some shots off, but were either high or wide of the goal. Both teams went into halftime with the match scoreless at 0-0.

The Railsplitters quickly applied pressure to the Big Blue defense as in the second half Maya Marasco fired off shots in the 46^th and 49^th minute, which are saved by the Bluefield keeper.

After some off target shots from LMU throughout the next 12 minutes, Prosser took a corner kick, which is punched out by the Big Blue goalkeeper. The ball continued to juggle within the 18-yard box but landed in front of Wilds, who followed through with a shot that slid past the goalkeeper to give Lincoln Memorial the lead 0-1.

Van der Zalm tests the keeper as she fired a shot in the 63^rd minute, saved, followed by a shot by Maiara Windszus Pessanha that hits the crossbar.

Emma Cooke earned her first two saves of the match in the 69^th minute as Bluefield State took two shots on target.

Filsner took a shot in the 71^st minute, which is saved by the keeper.

Lincoln Memorial extended the lead in the 72^nd minute as a corner is taken, which goes to the top center of the 18-yard box, and Jade Brown took the shot in the low left corner of the goal past the keeper to make the score 0-2.

The Big Blue fired a shot in the 75^th minute, giving Emma Cooke another save.

Bluefield shortened LMU's lead in the 76^th minute as Mallinger scored to make the score 1-2.
The Railsplitters took a pair of blocked shots in the 76^th minute by Brown and Snyder.

In the 79^th minute, Snyder crossed the ball from the right side of the 18-yard box to Astrid Palmblad, who finished the shot past the keeper to give LMU the two-goal lead 1-3.

In the same minute, the Railsplitters extended their lead even further as Maya Patel sent the ball through the Bluefield defensive line to Wilds, who finished the shot to give herself the brace to give Lincoln Memorial the advantage 4-1.

In the 81^st and 83^rd minutes, Ava Garrett, Sophia Berglund, and Snyder continued to apply pressure to the Big Blue as they took shots which were saved, blocked, and saved, respectively.

With those being the last shot attempts from either team, LMU took the win over Bluefield State 4-1.

Wilds led the match in goals with the two goals, followed by Brown and Palmblad with one goal each. Snyder and Patel each tallied an assist. Wilds was the team-leader in shots with eight, while Windszus Pessanha, Filsner, and Snyder followed her with four shots each. Filsner and Wilds both led in shots on goal with three, and Cooke earned herself three saves on the evening.

As a team, Lincoln Memorial out shot the Big Blue 34-7, and they recorded 16 shots on frame. The Railsplitters also recorded 18 corner kicks and registered three saves.

With the win, Lincoln Memorial improves to 5-4-2 overall and Bluefield State drops to 2-6-1 overall.

The next match for the Railsplitters will be on Wednesday, October 15^th as they host rival Carson-Newman at LMU Lacrosse Complex at 5:00 pm.