BOCA RATON, Fla. — Paul Brauckmann scored on a free kick in the 77th minute as top-ranked and defending NCAA Division II national champion Lynn University opened its title defense with a 2-1 victory over Tusculum University in non-conference men’s soccer Thursday afternoon at Bobby Campbell Stadium.
The Fighting Knights (1-0-0) outshot the Pioneers (0-1-0) by a 16-2 margin, but had a much tougher time with a Tusculum squad that it beat 6-1 last year in Greeneville en route to the national title. Just six of Lynn’s shots were on target in the match, as Pioneer keeper Noe Delmotte finished with four saves.
Hugo Le Floch scored for the Pioneers in his collegiate debut as Tusculum took a 1-0 lead midway through the first half. Fynn Friedrichs would score the equalizer under six minutes from halftime for the Knights, and the teams would stay deadlocked until Brauckmann’s winner at 76:46.
The first shot attempt for either team came in the 17th minute, when a blast from 30 yards by Lynn’s Robin Muenst was tipped over the crossbar by Delmotte.
The Pioneers’ first shot attempt would result in the first goal of the season at 25:54. Off a turnover, Clarenns Sainrimat crossed to Le Floch whose low shot from the top of the box beat keeper Luca Clavero to the right post for a 1-0 Tusculum lead.
The Knights leveled the score at 39:18 as a quick pass from the goal line by Muenst was drilled by Friedrichs low past Delmotte.
In the second half, Lynn nearly took the lead in the 63rd minute but Delmotte made a spectacular save on a try from Juan Moran Garcia. The ensuing rebound went into the net but the flag had been shown for offsides.
Delmotte made his third save by cradling a shot from distance by Muenst in the 66th minute. However, Tusculum would go a man down with 21:37 remaining.
Lynn grabbed a 2-1 lead with 13:24 to play as Brauckmann drilled a free kick from 25 yards out over the wall and past a lunging Delmotte.
Delmotte kept the deficit at one in the 84th minute with his fourth save of the afternoon off a low shot from Martijn Smith.
Thursday’s match was the first time that the Pioneers faced the number one team in Division II since 2018, when Tusculum lost 2-1 to Young Harris in the second round of the NCAA Tournament. The Pioneers are 0-5 all-time against top-ranked teams, with four of the losses by one goal.
Both teams were called for 14 fouls in the match, with Lynn earning six corners to two for Tusculum. The Pioneers were flagged four times for offsides in the match, with three to Lynn.
Tusculum will wrap up its Florida trip on Saturday, Sept. 6 with a 7 p.m. match at Palm Beach Atlantic.
