Lakeland, Fla. – It was another one-goal match for Lynn University's women's soccer team. This time the Fighting Knights were on the winning end, topping Florida Southern 1-0 on Sunday afternoon. Kirstie Schults scored her first career game-winning goal and Meghan Dolan stopped seven shots for LU's seventh shutout. Lynn improves to 8-4-1 overall and evens its record to 3-3-0 in the Sunshine State Conference.
This marks the first time Lynn has won at Florida Southern since 2002. The Knights have played in seven matches decided by a goal or less and are 3-3-1 in those games.
Megan Rodwell played a huge role in keeping the match scoreless in the first half, saving a would-be goal off the back line midway through play. Florida Southern (7-5-1, 2-3-1 SSC) was able to slip past the LU defense with Hanna Jansson alone just inside the Knights' box. Rodwell forced Jansson back with a pass to Adi Alvarado, who immediately struck a shot to the left post. Lynn's defense pushed the attempt wide but Alex Hoover was there to get a point blank shot off on net. With Dolan away from the play, Rodwell stopped the shot with her stomach and cleared the ball away from harm's way.
Dolan made another finger-tip save near the end of the half, one of seven shots saved by the freshman keeper. The St. Louis, Mo., product made another huge stop near the end of regulation, turning away a header from inside the six-yard box.
Schults was the story of the match. In her previous game, the freshman from Merritt Island, Fla., scored a goal but was also whistled for offsides several times. Today, Schults was on-point, scoring for the second time this season in the 56th minute of play. Melissa Ortiz set everything up with a fantastic run through the middle of the field before threading the needle and perfectly placing a through ball past the Mocs defense. Schults easily beat her defender, took one touch and ripped a shot to the center of net for the score.
She nearly added a second 10 minutes later on a similar play but her attempt was saved by Martina Tangen-Billing, one of four saves on the night for the Mocs' keeper.
Lynn outshot Florida Southern 18-16 but FSC was able to take the corner kick battle 8-0.
The Fighting Knights return to action on Saturday, October 22, at 3 p.m. when they host nationally-ranked Florida Tech. Fans can watch the game live at www.LynnFightingKnights.com and selecting the Game Central icon.
