No. 5 Lynn's Late Goals Spoil Eckerd's Upset Bid

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - The Eckerd men's soccer team did what no other team had done this season, but the fifth-ranked Lynn Fighting Knights scored twice in the final 10 minutes to escape Johnson Field with a 3-2 win Saturday night.

HOW IT ENDED
Final: #5 Lynn 3, Eckerd 2
Records: Lynn 7-0 (3-0 SSC); Eckerd 3-4 (1-3 SSC)
All-Time Series: Lynn leads, 30-2-1

HOW IT HAPPENED
* Despite the fact that Lynn hadn't allowed a goal all season, the Tritons wasted little time in breaking that streak.  After EC was awarded a free kick from 25 yards out in the ninth minute, T.J. Soehn lofted the ball toward the far post where it deflected off the post to Matheus Assumpcao.  Assumpcao quickly volleyed the ball past Lynn keeper Alexander Roth into the net for an early 1-0 lead.
* The Tritons maintained that lead for the rest of the half.  The Fighting Knights created some good chances but couldn't convert, thanks in part to a pair of brilliant saves by Alex Gott in the 14th and 19th minutes.
* Lynn equalized the match early in the second half.  Carrying the ball down the right side, Alun Webb slid a pass to Stefan Strohmaier running on toward the right post.  Strohmaier fired a shot just past the reach of Gott into the left corner to tie the match at 1-1.
* Gott stopped two more Lynn chances over the next several minutes, giving Eckerd a chance to retake the lead.  The Tritons did so in the 66th minute as Westleigh Rush threaded a pass through two defenders to an unmarked Juan David Tejada in the right side of the box.  Tejada took two touches and blasted a shot past Roth, putting Eckerd back ahead 2-1.
* The lead held up until the 82nd minute when Webb and Strohmaier connected again for their second equalizer.  Webb then assisted on the game-winner five minutes later, finding Max Hebert near the top of the box where he dribbled free and sent a shot into the upper right corner.
* EC sent a cross into the box in the final minute looking for its own equalizer.  Liam Guest out-jumped the Lynn defense for a header attempt but his shot went wide.

NOTABLE
* Assumpcao's goal broke a streak of 548 scoreless minutes by the Lynn defense.  The Knights had shut out their previous six opponents.
* Tejada's goal was his fourth of the season, tying for the team lead.  Three of his four goals have come in conference play.
* Lynn held an 18-6 edge in shots and placed nine on goal.  EC converted both of its shots on goal.  Gott stopped six shots, including two in one-v-one situations.

QUOTABLE
"I could talk about the fight and work ethic of the group tonight, but that's an expectation.  We performed intensity-wise exactly how I expected us to.  But to cross that finish line and become a big-game team, you have to show maturity.  We were immature in a few key moments.  We must learn the nuances of this game that prove critical." - EC head coach Ian Cameron

UP NEXT
The Tritons travel to take on Saint Leo on Wednesday at 7:00 PM.  The Lions' match against Florida Tech on Friday was postponed due to weather.