HARROGATE, Tenn. — After sixty minutes of a defensive stalemate, the Lincoln Memorial University women’s soccer team poured in a pair of late goals to defeat the University of South Carolina Aiken, 2-1, at the LMU Soccer Complex on Tuesday afternoon. With the victory, the Lady Railsplitters jump to 2-0 on the season, while the Pacers fall to 0-2-1.
After the opening 45 minutes of play, the two teams had combined for eight total shots, with six of those shots coming from the Pacers’ side. Both teams failed to notch a score in the first half as the two teams’ defenses controlled the action in the first stanza.
The Lady Railsplitters broke through and grabbed control of the match at the midway point of the second half, beginning with sophomore Nicole McKinney’s scoring effort at the conclusion of the 60th minute. McKinney capitalized on a pass from freshman Olivia Thompson off the right wing, heading the ball into the back of the net to give LMU a 1-0 advantage. That goal was McKinney’s first of the young season, while Thompson recorded her second assist of the year on the play.
Less than two minutes later, the Lady ‘Splitters struck again, this time off of the foot of sophomore Rachael Vienneau in the 62nd minute. No assist was needed on the play as the Woodstock, Georgia native took the ball up the right side and launched a shot from well beyond thirty yards, finding the back of the net over the outstretched arm of the Pacers’ keeper. That goal goes down as Vienneau’s first of the 2012 season.
Over the final 28 minutes of play, the Lady Railsplitters limited USC Aiken to only three shots, with keeper Kayla Hanson stymying two of those attempts. LMU would hold on down the stretch for a 2-0 victory over the Pacers.
The Lady Railsplitters won despite surrending 16 shots to the Pacers in the contest. LMU was held to seven in that same category but they were able to make the most of those opportunities.
Kayla Hanson played all 90 minutes in goal for the Lady ‘Splitters, allowing no scores and making six stops in the shutout performance.
LMU returns to the field on Friday, as they host regional foe Columbus State University at 5 p.m. at the LMU Soccer Complex.
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