MATTHEWS, N.C. – The No. 2 seed Lynn University men's soccer team will play in the semifinal of the NCAA Tournament on Thursday, Dec. 12, against No. 3 seed McKendree University in Matthews, N.C. Both teams are unbeaten this season and aim to secure a spot in the national championship on Saturday.

Semifinal Match
#2 Lynn vs. #3 McKendree
Thursday, Dec. 12, 6:00 PM ET
Mecklenburg County Sportsplex, Matthews, N.C.

Fighting Knight Notes:
- Lynn is unbeaten this season at 18-0-2, winning both the SSC regular season championship and tournament
- This is Lynn's ninth Final Four appearance as they chase their fourth national championship (2003, 2012, 2014)
- Lynn ranks second nationally in defense, allowing just 10 goals in 20 matches, and fifth in goal differential (+38)
- Goalkeeper Luca Clavero, SSC Goalkeeper of the Year and D2CCA Second Team All-American, has a 0.495 goals-against average, ranking second in the nation
- Henry Haferkorn, a D2CCA First Team All-American, has anchored a defense that conceded just nine goals in his 15 matches
- Fabian Vyhnalek and Luan Barroso Rennstich have combined for 21 assists and nine goals this season. Rennstich leads the team with four game-winning goals
- Forwards Luis Kiefer and Dominik N'gatie both have six goals, with N'gatie scoring the overtime winner in the quarterfinals against Clayton State
- Head coach John Rootes is seeking his third national title at Lynn. He earned his 200th win earlier this season against Nova Southeastern

Opponent Spotlight – McKendree University:
- McKendree (15-0-7) is making its first Final Four appearance in program history
- The Bearcats lead the nation in defense with a 0.449 goals-against average, conceding just 10 goals in 22 matches
- Senior midfielder Philipp Schmidt leads McKendree with 20 points (7 goals, 6 assists), while sophomore defender Bailey Winchurch scored in the quarterfinals
- Goalkeeper Christian Herluf has 14 shutouts this season, with an 0.855 save percentage
- Freshman forward Adam Reiniger is the team's second-leading scorer with five goals, including braces against Missouri S&T and Upper Iowa earlier this season
- Head coach Ryan O'Keefe has guided the Bearcats to their best NCAA tournament run, with prior appearances ending in the Round of 16 in 2023

Matchup Overview:
-These semifinalists feature the best two defenses in Division II soccer. Lynn has conceded just 10 goals in 20 matches, while McKendree's defense matches that mark across 22 matches
- Lynn's offense has been more prolific, scoring 48 goals this season (12th nationally) compared to McKendree's 37
- This is the first-ever meeting between Lynn and McKendree, adding intrigue to a tightly contested semifinal. The winner will face either Charleston or Franklin Pierce in the NCAA Division II National Championship on Saturday, Dec. 14.