#5 Railsplitters Begin Defense Of Appalachian Region Title With 8-1 Thrashing Of University Of Charleston

HARROGATE, TN – Despite losing three starters from last season’s Appalachian Region title team, the Lincoln Memorial University Railsplitter men’s soccer team looked as though they were in late season form on Friday afternoon when they opened the 2007 schedule against the Golden Eagles of the University of Charleston with an 8-1 win.

Lincoln Memorial rolled up a 3-0 lead by the end of the first half on a goal from senior Nelson Pizzaro (Pembroke Pines, FL) and a pair by sophomore Leandro Pereira (Brasilia, Brazil) that were assisted by teammate and countryman Leonardo Barros (Brasilia, Brazil).

The Golden Eagles were spared no mercy from Charleston to Harrogate.  The University of Charleston bus’s air conditioning went on the blink only a short way into the trip from West Virginia.  Then, after enduring a 3-0 deficit at the half and playing in 103 degree heat on the field, the Golden Eagles were forced to watch the fifth-ranked Railsplitters turn up the heat in the second half when Lincoln Memorial scored another five goals for the final 8-1 margin.

Due to many sporting events going on Friday afternoon on the LMU campus, statistics were not available immediately after the match but unofficially, Pereira did complete the hat-trick late in the second half and eventually scored a fourth goal.  Teammate Leonardo Barros who assisted both of Pereira’s goals in the first half also scored two goals in the final 45 minutes of play.  LMU junior Ian Richardson (North Lanarkshire, Scotland) scored the final goal for LMU.