ST. PETERSBURG - Lynn women's soccer battled through a defensive duel to close out its 2025 regular season, falling 1-0 on the road at Eckerd on Saturday evening. The Fighting Knights held the Tritons scoreless for more than 80 minutes behind a strong performance from goalkeeper
Emma Brunelli, but a late goal in the 84th minute proved to be the difference. Lynn finished the year 2-10-4 overall and 1-8-1 in Sunshine State Conference play
HOW IT HAPPENED:
- Both teams settled in defensively through the opening 15 minutes, trading throw-ins and free kicks while Brunelli handled early pressure for the Fighting Knights
- Lynn began to find rhythm midway through the half, earning a corner in the 29th minute that led to a dangerous shot on goal from
Brooklyn Steiner
- The Fighting Knights' back line held firm as Brunelli made a key save in the 32nd minute to deny Eckerd from close range
- Despite controlling stretches of play and outshooting Eckerd in the final 15 minutes, Lynn went into halftime locked in a 0-0 tie
- Lynn opened the second half aggressively, earning an early free kick and
Kayla Bradby's shot in the 47th minute that just missed the frame
- Brunelli continued her strong play with a save in the 49th minute on a high strike from Eckerd's Freija Aflenzer to keep the match scoreless
- The Fighting Knights generated several promising looks midway through the half, highlighted by shots from
Juliana Torres,
Kayleigh Merchant, and
Julia Hellenkamp, each testing Eckerd's keeper
- Eckerd finally broke through in the 84th minute, converting a low shot off a well-timed pass to take a late 1-0 lead
- Lynn pushed forward in the closing minutes with multiple substitutions and attacking pressure, but couldn't find the equalizer before time expired
FIGHTING KNIGHT STATS:
- Brunelli played the full 90 minutes, recording three saves while facing 11 total shots
- Lynn totaled seven shots in the match, including three on goal, led by Merchant (2 shots, 1 on goal) and Steiner (1 shot on goal)
- Hellenkamp also added a shot on target, while K'la Barnes-Blackwood, Torres, and Bradby each registered one attempt
- The Fighting Knights earned one corner kick in the contest
- Despite creating several late opportunities, Lynn couldn't find the equalizer after Eckerd's lone goal in the 84th minute
