Lynn University

BOCA RATON, Fla. - Behind a three-point performance from Joao Silva, the Lynn University men's soccer team rallied from an early deficit to defeat Nova Southeastern, 3-2, in its Sunshine State Conference opener Wednesday evening at Bobby Campbell Stadium.

Silva scored twice and added an assist, while Luan Barroso Rennstich contributed a goal and an assist as the Fighting Knights improved to 2-0-3 overall and 1-0-0 in SSC play.

- Robin Muenst generated Lynn's first scoring opportunity in the eighth minute, sending a shot off target

- Nova Southeastern responded with a corner kick in the 12th minute, but the Sharks'  ensuing shot missed the mark

- The Fighting Knights continued to apply pressure, with Muenst having a shot blocked in the 15th minute before Joao Pinto sent an attempt off target in the 21st

- Rui Ferreira and Fabian Wagner forced back-to-back saves from the Sharks goalkeeper  in the 32nd minute as Lynn looked to break the scoreless deadlock

- Nova Southeastern struck first at 36:16 when the Sharks found the bottom center of the net to give NSU a 1-0 advantage

- Lynn wasted little time responding, as Silva buried a shot into the bottom-left corner at 38:42 off an assist from Barroso Rennstich to level the match at 1-1

- Lynn earned two corner kicks in the closing five minutes of the half, but the two sides entered the break tied at 1-1

- The Fighting Knights came out firing in the second half, with Fabian Vyhnalek forcing a save just 23 seconds after the restart

- Silva completed his brace at 48:05, finding the bottom center of the net off an assist from Vyhnalek to give Lynn its first lead of the evening, 2-1

- Lynn continued to threaten as Barroso Rennstich forced another save in the 52nd minute before Muenst had an attempt blocked in the 60th

- Nova Southeastern looked to equalize in the 73rd minute, but Lynn goalkeeper Julian Marcos turned away an NSU shot toward the bottom-left corner

- The Fighting Knights extended their advantage to 3-1 at 74:12 when Barroso Rennstich buried a right-footed shot into the bottom-right corner off an assist from Silva

- Silva's second goal contribution of the evening gave him a hand in all three Lynn goals, while Barroso Rennstich recorded a goal and an assist

- Nova Southeastern applied pressure late, but Marcos came up with a pair of saves in the 86th and 87th minutes to preserve Lynn's two-goal advantage

- Ferreira looked to add a fourth for the Fighting Knights in the 90th minute, but his attempt went off target

- The Sharks pulled within one with a goal at 89:43, cutting Lynn's lead to 3-2 

- Lynn held off Nova Southeastern over the final seconds to secure the 3-2 victory

-  Lynn improves to 2-0-3 overall and 1-0-0 in SSC play

- Silva recorded his first brace of the season, scoring twice and adding an assist for a five-point performance 

- Barroso Rennstich finished with a goal and an assist, totaling three points 

- Vyhnalek picked up his first assist of the match on Silva's go-ahead goal

- Muenst and Ferreira led the Fighting Knights with four shots apiece

- Marcos played all 90 minutes in goal, making two saves to secure the victory 

- Lynn outshot the Sharks 17-10, including a 9-4 advantage in shots on goal

- The Fighting Knights scored twice in the second half to secure their first SSC victory of the young season 

The Fighting Knights hit the road for their first SSC road test of the season, taking on Florida Southern on Saturday, Sept. 19 at 7:00 pm.