BOCA RATON, Fla. - The Lynn University men's soccer team enters the 2026 season as the preseason favorite in the Sunshine State Conference and ranked No. 8 nationally in the United Soccer Coaches Preseason Poll, as the Fighting Knights look to build on back-to-back SSC championships and another NCAA postseason appearance.
The Fighting Knights are coming off a 14-3-2 campaign in 2025 that included a 7-2-1 mark in SSC play, an SSC Tournament Championship and an appearance in the NCAA Division II Championship Third Round.
While last season added another trophy to the program's history, head coach John Rootes enters 2026 focused on the experienced group returning to Boca Raton and how quickly several newcomers can make an impact.
"We have a good core coming back," Rootes said. "I think it's going to be similar to last season when we started off slowly. We have a few new players that are key players, so we're hoping we can get through the first few non-conference games, get things going and get back to where we were last year."
N'Gatie returns following a standout 2025 season in which he was named the D2CCA South Region Player of the Year, D2CCA Second Team All-America and SSC Offensive Player of the Year. He led the conference with 14 goals and finished with 31 points.
Muenst also earned D2CCA First Team All-South Region and First Team All-SSC honors after recording eight goals and an SSC-best 10 assists.
Vyhnalek contributed two goals and seven assists and was named Second Team All-SSC, while Barroso Rennstich posted three goals and eight assists on his way to Second Team All-SSC recognition.
For Rootes, the value of that returning group extends beyond its production on the field.
"It's always good to have a good core back because you have your team culture," Rootes said. "Those guys are really instrumental in teaching the new guys what our culture is about. A lot of our success is due to the fact that we have this culture that we imprint on everybody every year."
The Fighting Knights also welcome several newcomers who could make an immediate impact.
Up front, Fabian Wagner joins Lynn after spending the 2025 season at Florida Atlantic. The 6-foot-2 forward previously played two seasons at Saint Francis, where he totaled 10 goals and five assists in 31 appearances and earned First Team All-NEC honors in 2024.
Wagner has already impressed during the preseason, scoring in each of Lynn's first two exhibition matches.
Rootes believes Wagner can provide another scoring threat alongside N'Gatie and Lynn's experienced attacking group.
"When (N'gatie) gets on track, he's going to score goals," Rootes said. "(Muesnt) did pretty well, but (Vyhnalek) will give us another goal scorer."
Another accomplished newcomer is Joao Silva, a transfer from the University of Charleston. Silva earned United Soccer Coaches All-America honors in each of his first two collegiate seasons, receiving Second Team honors in 2024 before earning First Team recognition in 2025.
Silva is no stranger to Lynn, having scored against the Fighting Knights as a freshman in the 2024 NCAA Division II National Championship, a match Lynn won 3-2 to capture the program's fourth NCAA title.
On the back line, transfer Marc Vila brings experience after earning United Soccer Coaches First Team All-Southeast Region honors at Anderson University in 2025. The left-footed defender is one of several players Rootes and his staff are evaluating as Lynn replaces key pieces from last season's defensive unit.
"Marc is solid, he's left-footed and he's smart," Rootes said. "He's learning our system, and we're trying to figure out the other pieces."
The Fighting Knights will also feature a new-look goalkeeper group following the departure of Luca Clavero.
Gavin Garlick is the lone returning goalkeeper, while Division I transfer Julian Marcos, Argentine freshman
Santiago Jose and freshman
Marcus Degregorio have joined the competition for the starting position.
Jose arrives at Lynn after developing in the River Plate academy in Argentina, where he played at the youth level for one of South America's most recognized clubs.
"Santiago is really good with the ball at his feet," Rootes said. "He's come through one of the best academies in South America. Long term, we think he can be the guy."
Despite being selected first in the SSC preseason poll, Rootes knows Lynn's recent success and returning talent will bring increased expectations.
"It's flattering that everybody has that much respect for us," Rootes said. "It's a lot of pressure on us, and it puts expectations on the guys."
With an established group of returning players and a talented collection of newcomers, the Fighting Knights will look to once again contend at the top of one of Division II's most competitive conferences.
Lynn opens the 2026 regular season on Thursday, Aug. 27 at 3:00 pm, hosting No.10 Mississippi College at Bobby Campbell Stadium in a rematch of last season's NCAA Championship Third Round matchup.
