Lakeland, Fla. – After being shut out through the first 45 minutes of play, Lynn University's men's soccer team scored three times in the second half to pull out a 3-1 victory over Florida Southern on Saturday afternoon. Heiko Eberhardt scored his fourth goal of the season while Lanre Giwa contributed to the Fighting Knights other two goals. Lynn improves to 6-1-0 overall and 2-0-0 in the Sunshine State Conference.
Neither team was able to muster up much offense through the opening half with only two shots on goal combined. And it was an unlucky play at the end of the first period sent LU into the locker room trailing 1-0. A square ball through the center of the field was intercepted by Florida Southern (4-3-0, 1-1-0 SSC) and a combination of passes left Zach Hofstetter open on the left wing. His ensuing shot deflected off a Knights' defender for his eighth goal of the year.
A different team stepped on the pitch in the second half, attacking the Mocs defenses right from the whistle and putting pressure on them in all facets. That pressure paid off in the 56th minute when Harald Gracholski was tackled inside the penalty box following a cross from Martin Wehlert. Eberhardt buried the PK to knot the match at one.
Giwa infused LU's offense coming off the bench and his tenacity paid dividends in the 69th minute of play. Beating his man down the right sideline, Giwa looked for Julian Halder on the back post. A lucky break for LU then came when Ricky Marton headed in the ball under the cross bar to put Lynn on top 2-1.
Not resting on the one goal lead, Giwa added his first career score in the 79th minute after a 30 minute lightning delay. Wehlert once again sent in a perfect ball to the six yard box, just over a leaping Logan Albritton, where Giwa smashed in the header to put the Blue & White ahead 3-1.
The Knights defense locked down Florida Southern in the second half, allowing just two shots, none of which came on goal. Matt DiCerbo logged one save while his counterpart, Charlie Craig, stopped three shots.
Lynn returns to the pitch on Wednesday, September 28, at 3 p.m. when they host Nova Southeastern. Fans can watch the game live atwww.LynnFightingKnights.com and receive in-game tweets from Sports Information Director Chad Beattie @chad_bt.
