GREENEVILLE, Tenn. — Second-ranked Lynn University earned a 6-1 victory over Tusculum University in non-conference men’s soccer Wednesday afternoon at Pioneer Field.
Max Lambertz scored two goals and both Fabian Vyhnalek and Luan Barroso Rennstich had a goal and an assist for the Fighting Knights (4-0-0), who outshot the Pioneers (0-3-0) by a 16-4 margin after scoring two goals in the first 5 1/2 minutes.
Clarenns Sainrimat scored on the lone shot on goal in the match for the Pioneers, which cut the deficit to 2-1 in the first half before Vyhnalek scored for a 3-1 Knights lead. Lynn would tack on three more goals in the second half.
Lambertz’ first goal came at 4:37 after Rennstich was fouled in the box, and he beat Tusculum keeper Sondre Liahagen Kolnes for his third of the season. 35 seconds later, Rennstich picked up a loose ball about 35 yards out and beat Kolnes one-on-one for his second of the year and a quick 2-0 Knights lead.
Sainrimat netted his first collegiate goal at 18:05 as a loose ball came to him about 30 yards away, and he split the defense before slipping a shot past Lynn keeper Luca Clavero. However, the Knights responded 8 1/2 minutes later as Luis Kiefer stole the ball at the end line and passed in front to Vyhnalek, who knocked home his third of the season at 26:34.
The score would remain unchanged until eight minutes into the second half, when a cross went to Lambertz and he notched his second of the match off assists from Rennstich and Vyhnalek at 53:11. Lynn would tack on two more goals in the final 13 minutes, with Tony Gomez scoring off a header at 77:55 and Ethan Henderson tapping in a pass at the goal line with 1:19 remaining.
Tusculum was called for 14 fouls and Lynn for 13, while each team was given three corner kicks. Lynn was flagged four times for offsides and Tusculum none. There were no cards issued to either team in the match, the first time that the Pioneers have played in a caution-free match for both sides in exactly five years (Sept. 18, 2019 at King).
Kolnes made two saves in goal while playing the entire match for the Pioneers, while Clavero did not make a save in his 90 minutes of work for the Fighting Knights.
After playing back-to-back top-five ranked teams in Wingate and Lynn, the Pioneers host Newberry on Sunday, Sept. 22 at 4:30 p.m. at Pioneer Field. The Wolves have opened the season with three straight losses, including a 7-2 setback to Mars Hill in their SAC opener last Saturday.
