Saint Leo, Fla. – Lynn University's men's soccer overcame a two-goal deficit with 18 minutes to play to force overtime but fell 6-5 in penalty kicks to Barry in the 2013 Sunshine State Conference Championship finals on Sunday afternoon. Michael O'Neill tallied two goals to up his team-best total to seven. The Fighting Knights record moves to 11-5-2 overall.
The Blue & White dominated the pace of play in the opening half, keeping possession for nearly 70 percent of the period and outshooting the Buccaneers 6-2, but could not come away with a goal. Barry keeper Johnny Rodrigues was forced into one dynamic save, a header by Javier Mochon off a corner, to keep the match scoreless.
Barry (9-8-2) then stunned LU with a goal less than two minutes into the second period. Kris Wilkinson found the back of the net with shot to the right side after getting a touch pass inside the box. The Bucs then added another goal 10 minutes later after a defensive breakdown gave Wilkinson a one-on-one with Fighting Knights goalkeeper Kevin Shields.
Lynn was able to cut its deficit almost immediately as O'Neill fired a shot from 25-yards out dead of center. The ball was a laser to the upper left corner, struck the underside of the crossbar and dropped on the back side of the goal line for the score.
The Fighting Knights continued to pressure and pushed past the Buccaneers' efforts to load the box in the 84th minute. Mochon sent in a cross from the right side through the six-yard box and past the left post to Matthias Jaenicke. The German midfielder evaded one defender and found O'Neill at the top of the box. O'Neill immediately took aim on net with his shot deflecting off a Bucs' defender to knot the match at 2-2.
Looking to claim the title in overtime, Mochon was able to get two shots off on goal in the second OT but Rodrigues again made a diving stop while the second attempt went just left of the post.
In PKs it is any team's game and both team's first five shooters were able to convert. Rodrigues and Shields were each able to get fingers on shots but could not keep anything out until the final attempt was stopped on a diving play by Barry to secure the title.
The Fighting Knights were fourth in the most recent NCAA South Region rankings with the top-three teams qualifying for the NCAA Tournament. Fans can watch the NCAA selection shot live on Monday at 7 p.m. at NCAA.com or check back to LynnFighthingKnights.com to see if LU will make its third consecutive appearance.
