Railsplitters Get Overtime Goal From Curtis To Take 1-0 Victory Over Asbury In Season Opener

August 27, 2009

HARROGATE, TN - The Lincoln Memorial University men's soccer team successfully kicked off the 2009 schedule on Thursday afternoon with a 1-0 overtime victory over visiting NAIA opponent Asbury College at home on the LMU campus.

Although rain early in the day Thursday made for less than favorable field conditions, the Railsplitters dominated the offensive end of the game in their season opener, out shooting Asbury 37-3 and placing 12 shots on goal, including the game-winning-goal by sophomore Robbie Curtis (Ozark, MO). Curtis' goal came 7:40 into the first and only overtime period and was scored when teammate Fernando Silveira (Brasilia, Brazil) hit him with a pass from the ride side and Curtis found the back corner to end the match.

Defensively, Preseason All-South Atlantic Conference goalkeeper Michael Watkins (Statesville, NC) went nearly untested. Watkins recorded one save among the two shots-on-goal, while the other went in the books as a team save.

Now 1-0 on the season, the Railsplitters have Friday to prepare for NCAA Division II opponent Barton College. Barton is under the direction of Head Coach Matt Akins, a former assistant under Helio D'Anna the first season LMU went to the NCAA Final Four in 2006. Akins left the Railsplitter program to take his first head coaching position with Barton two seasons ago and has been rebuilding the program since. The Railsplitters and the Bulldogs square off in Saturday's afternoon cap at 4:00 p.m.