LAKELAND â€" Florida Southern’s effort Saturday night was one for the ages, and if not for one extremely unfortunate bounce, the final result might very well have been one too. The Moccasins pushed Lynn University to the limit, but an own goal in the 61st minute proved to be the decisive blow, as the Knights pulled out a 2-1 victory to keep their postseason hopes alive.
Three weeks ago, Lynn (13-3, 4-3 Sunshine State Conference) was undefeated and ranked #1 in the country, but since that time, the Knights suffered an overtime loss to Tampa, and setbacks to Saint Leo and Rollins in the final eight minutes. That dropped them to #20 in the national rankings and third in the regional rankings, with the top four qualifying for the NCAA Tournament. The Moccasins nearly dropped them further, but even in defeat, the result showed what they may be capable of in the future.
The Moccasins (1-11-1, 1-6) drew first blood just two minutes into the game after the Knights were whistled for back-to-back fouls. The first one gave Florida Southern possession just across midfield, giving Zach Hofstetter a chance to serve a long free kick into the box. The second came at the end of that serve when a hand ball was called against Lynn, setting up a penalty kick by Givi Kokaia. Lynn goalkeeper Alessandro Salvatore saved it, but Kokaia scored on the rebound, giving the Mocs a 1-0 lead.
The Knights answered in the 16th minute, using one of their nine first-half corner kicks to tie the score. Scott McCubbin’s kick was on target for Sam Craven, who emerged from a group of Moccasins in the 6-yard box to record the equalizer.
After surviving two more corner kicks immediately after that, the Mocs threatened again in the 23rd minute, but midfielder Christian Donert thwarted them twice after a throw-in from Brad Hunt and return service by J.D. Ruiz. Then in the 40th minute, Billy Locy hit a strong header in front of the far post following a Hofstetter corner kick, but Salvatore stopped it to keep the game tied at one.
Another corner kick early in the second half had a similar result, with Locy again causing concern for the Knights. It came after a counter-attack by the Mocs, who had just turned away a Lynn corner kick at the other end of the field. David Fletcher kept the play alive for Florida Southern with a sliding stop near the sideline, getting the ball downfield for Kokaia to take on Lynn’s remaining defenders in the back. David Kunin was able to stop him inside the box, resulting in the corner kick for Florida Southern, with Locy’s header going a little wide of the mark.
Two minutes later, the Mocs countered again after Sebastian Bergh blocked a shot by Stefan Wolf near the top of the box. Brilliant ball work by Kokaia and Hofstetter on the run gave the Mocs a chance to finish the play, but a shot by Kokaia from the top left corner of the box rang off the underside of the crossbar. Jared Bellingar was only a step away on the back side of the play, but Lynn got to the loose ball first.
Disaster struck for Florida Southern in the 61st minute, however, when a clearing attempt by the Mocs deflected off another Moccasin defender and ricocheted into the net for a Lynn goal. A somewhat stunned group of Knights briefly celebrated, not knowing it would be their final goal of the night.
It was not the last chance for either team though. The Mocs had another good one in the 80th minute when Jovaughn Howard broke loose in the middle of the Lynn defense and ripped a shot from 20 yards out toward the left post. Salvatore made a diving save to send it wide and the Mocs were called for offside on the follow-up attempt. Lynn eventually ran out the clock without allowing another shot.
The Moccasin defense was also superb, as the back line of Bergh, Locy, Ruiz and Matt Macias, as well as Fletcher and Daniel Pulse in the midfield, held a team ranked third in the nation in scoring, to 13 shots, only six of them on goal. Johan Jonsson made four saves, and had to make just one in the second half.
Florida Southern will play its season finale on Thursday night, October 29, when it hosts 3rd-ranked Rollins College at 7:30.
