MELBOURNE, Fla. – The top-ranked and undefeated Lynn men's soccer team accumulated 11 accolades as the Sunshine State Conference announced its All-SSC awards, Thursday. The SSC Regular Season Champions led all schools in nominations.

Defensive Player of the Year: Henry Haferkorn
Haferkorn, a grad student from Datten Germany, anchored a Fighting Knights defense that allowed the fewest goals in SSC play (6) and ended the regular season with five conference shutouts. He added two goals on the season, including a game-winning header in the final seconds to defeat Nova Southeastern on Sept. 29 for head coach John Rootes' 200^th win at Lynn.

Goalkeeper of the Year: Luca Clavero
Clavero, a junior from Sevilla, Spain, led the conference in shutouts, goals against average and save percentage. His 0.60 goals against average ranks sixth in the nation, while his eight shutouts rank eighth. For his career, he is 29-4-10 with 21 clean sheets, a .766 SV% and a 0.70 GAA over 44 games.

Coaching Staff of the Year: Lynn University
The Fighting Knights earned their 11^th SSC regular season title in 2024, as head coach John Rootes and assistant coach Anthony Desperito were presented as the SSC Coaching Staff of the Year. Rootes, now a four-time SSC Coach of the Year, accomplished his first unbeaten season at Lynn, going 12-0-2. The Fighting Knights rank seventh in the nation with a +32 goal differential, 10^th in scoring (2.73) and first in W/L/T percentage (.933). The Blue and White have been ranked No. 1 in the country for each of the last seven weeks in the United Soccer Coaches Top 25 Poll.

All-SSC Teams:
Eight Fighting Knights also earned a spot on the 2024 All-SSC Team, the most the program has had since 2008.

Haferkorn, Clavero and midfielder Luan Barroso Rennstich were named to the First Team. Haferkorn and Clavero were each named to the Third Team in 2023. Barroso Rennstich leads the conference in game-winning goals with four. He has also assisted on seven goals and is second on the team with 15 points.

Midfielder Fabian Vyhnalek and defender Anton Mand earned Second Team honors. Vyhnalek has started all 15 matches this season and his 39 shots rank third in the SSC. He leads the Fighting Knights in points with 16 (4 G, 8 A). Mand has been steady force for Lynn's back end and has scored three goals on just seven shots.

The All-SSC Third Team includes forwards Luis Kiefer and Lucas Vila, as well as midfielder Tony Gomez. Kiefer is the team leader in goals with six. Despite appearing in just 12 games and playing a total of 612 minutes, Vila has scored five times this season. In 14 matches, Gomez has scored four times on 11 shots, including two game-winners.

Lynn hosts Tampa in the SSC semifinals tonight at 6:00 pm. 

SSC Semifinal Preview