BOCA RATON, Fla. – Junior Smith netted a hat trick to lead No. 7 Lynn to a 3-1 win over Saint Leo in the SSC Championship quarterfinals Monday night.
On a chilly and windy evening, the Lions struck first in the 72nd minute, but Smith took over down the stretch. The junior forward buried a penalty kick in the 80th minute to level the match, then slotted home the go-ahead goal seven minutes later. Just 17 seconds after that, he converted another PK to complete his rapid hat trick and seal the victory.
The Fighting Knights advance to the SSC Championship semifinals and improve to 12-2-1 overall in 2025.
HOW IT HAPPENED:
- Goalkeeper
Luca Clavero made a diving save to his right 1:02 into the match
- Clavero reached up for a save to keep the match scoreless in the 16th minute
-
Dominik N'gatie created just enough space to fire a well-placed left-footed shot that forced a diving save from the Lions' keeper
-
Robin Muenst took a pair of shots less than a minute apart, with one on target and forcing a Saint Leo save
- The Lions had two opportunities up close, but Clavero made a save and a second shot missed the net
-
Rui Ferreira's strike was fought off by the Lions' keeper in the 34th minute
- Each team went to the half with nine total shots and three on target
- Lynn owned 62% possession through 45 minutes
- Clavero made the first save of the second half in the 52nd minute
- After Smith was fouled just outside the area,
Paul Brauckmann stepped up for the - free kick, but his attempt carried over the bar
- The Lions converted first in the 72nd minute, 1-0
- The Fighting Knights went on the offensive and played a high press to increase their scoring chances, with the next play involving consecutive blocked shots inside the penalty area by Luan Barroso Rennstich and
Fabian Vyhnalek - Lynn was awarded a penalty kick in the 80th minute, where Smith buried it into the bottom-left corner, 1-1
- Six minutes later,
Thiago De Carvalho sent a low cross to the near post that found the feet of Smith for a tap-in goal to put the Blue and White ahead, 2-1
- A second penalty kick was awarded to the Fighting Knights in the next attack, and Smith stepped up again and tucked it into the same spot to complete the hat trick and win the game, 3-1
FIGHTING KNIGHT STATS:
- Smith now has seven goals in 2025
- He played 45 minutes (entire second half) and led the team with five shots
- After going seven years without a hat trick, the Fighting Knights have now had back-to-back games with one, courtesy of Muenst and Smith
- De Carvalho tallied his third assist of the season
- Clavero improved to 48-5-11 in his career and is one win shy of tying Matt Nelson for the second-most victories in program history
- Lynn is unbeaten in its last 10 matches against Saint Leo (9-0-1)
UP NEXT:
- The Blue and White will host Florida Tech in an SSC Semifinal match on Thursday, Nov. 13 at 6:00 pm
