ANDERSON, S.C. - After a heartbreaking 3-2 overtime setback to Queens on Wednesday, Anderson University men's soccer returns home for Homecoming on Saturday when it plays host to South Atlantic Conference rival Lincoln Memorial. Kick-off from Trojan Stadium is scheduled for 3:30 p.m.
The Trojans
Dropping its sixth match this season, AU is still in prime position
to host an opening round match of the SAC Championships in
November. Despite the setback, the Trojans carry a 6-3 league
record with a 7-6-1 overall mark, as they sit in a tie with
Carson-Newman for second place in the conference standings. With
its 18 points, AU is two points clear of a two-way tie for fourth
place with Lincoln Memorial and Tusculum.
Senior forward Andre Carle provided the offense for the Black and Gold on Wednesday at Queens, as he knocked in a pair of first-half goals, eventually sending the match into extra time. Carle has now scored six goals in Anderson's last six matches, including a pair of multi-goal contests against the Royals and Carson-Newman (10/3). With seven goals for the year, Carle is tied for third in the SAC, while also sitting in a tie for fifth in the conference in points with 17.
Defensively, goalkeeper Devon Ashy is one of two goalkeepers in the conference to spend every minute between the posts for their respective team. Ashy has accumulated over 1,310 minutes played and continues to lead the conference in saves with 62.
The Railsplitters
LMU saw its two-match winning streak, in which it out-scored
back-to-back SAC rivals by a combined total of 10-0, come to a
close on Wednesday when it dropped a 1-0 decision at home to Mars
Hill. With the setback, the Railsplitters are 8-3-1 following an
impressive month of September when they totaled six victories
including five straight to open the campaign. In SAC play, Lincoln
Memorial is two points behind Anderson and Carson-Newman for third
place with a 5-3-1 record.
Preseason All-SAC First Team selection Leonardo da Silva is second in the SAC in goals scored with eight for the year, as he has recorded four goals in LMU's last four matches. As a team, the Railsplitters have out-scored their opponents 25-12, as they were shutout on Wednesday for the first time since the opening round of the SAC Tournament last season. Both clean sheets came against Mars Hill.
Defensively, LMU goalkeeper Pedro Ozi carries the conference's second-best goals-against average with a 1.02 mark while ranking 11th in saves with 37. Ozi's season has been headlined by a seven-save effort in a 1-1 draw at Tusculum on Sept. 23.
The Series
After Anderson won the first three meetings in the series since
becoming SAC rivals in 2010, Lincoln Memorial has bounced back with
wins in three of the last four meetings, including the last two
matches. The Railsplitters scored in the eighth and 47th minute to
give them a 2-1 victory in last season's matchup, as Carle tried to
bring AU back in the 54th minute with a goal, but the comeback bid
fell short.
