BOCA RATON, Fla. – The No. 1 Lynn men's soccer team earned their second consecutive win to begin the 2025 season, defeating West Alabama 2-1 on Saturday morning at Bobby Campbell Stadium. Sophomore forward Junior Smith scored a brace in the second half, including the game-winner in the 82nd minute, as the Fighting Knights improved to 2-0 this season.

John Rootes reached a milestone by winning his 500th career match. The head coach has 216 wins and three National Championships as a Fighting Knight. He began his head coaching career at Southern New Hampshire in 1988.

HOW IT HAPPENED: 
- Lynn controlled the first half, outshooting the Tigers 6-0, but couldn't find a breakthrough despite earning five corner kicks 
- West Alabama struck first in the 59th minute when David Nunez buried a shot off the post after receiving a long switch from Kyllian Sylla, 1-0 
- The Fighting Knights answered just five minutes later 
- Fabian Vyhnalek and Luan Barroso Rennstich combined down the right flank from a corner kick, with Rennstich crossing for Smith to slot home the equalizer in the 64th minute, 1-1 
- Smith delivered the decisive moment in the 82nd minute, running onto a through ball from Robin Muenst and finishing past UWA goalkeeper Charlie Walker for the 2-1 advantage 
- Lynn played the final minute a man down after Jan Rohrling picked up a second yellow card in the 89th minute

FIGHTING KNIGHT STATS: 
- Lynn outshot West Alabama 16-2, with a 6-1 advantage in shots on goal 
- Smith scored his first two goals as a Fighting Knight 
- Muenst tallied his second assist of the season, while Rennstich and Vyhnalek each added an assist 
- Paul Brauckmann, Anton Mand, and Marc Ehmann also played the full match on the back line 
- Rohrling registered five shots on the day 
- Lynn earned 11 corner kicks compared to two for West Alabama 

UP NEXT: 
- The Blue and White will travel to Clinton, Mississippi to face the Mississippi College Choctaws on Friday Sept. 12 at 3:00 p.m.