Box Score

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – Nova Southeastern men’s soccer picked up a historic victory against the Lynn Fighting Knights Wednesday night, winning 5-2 at home in the team’s final regular season match. After starting the year 0-4 in the Sunshine State Conference, the Sharks (8-5-2) climbed back up the conference standings to a 4-4-0 record and have clinched a spot in the SSC Tournament.

The Shark seniors put on a show on their senior night as the team’s 10 seniors earned all of the Sharks’ five goals and three assists. Juan Gonzalez (Pompano Beach, Fla.) had the highest scoring game of his career with two goal and one assist. Aly Hassan (Weston, Fla.) chipped in two goals in the second half while Darryl Gordon (Miami, Fla.) capped off the night with his fourth goal of the season.

The Sharks did not have the best opening half of the season Wednesday night and needed the hot foot of Gonzalez to stay afloat. The Sharks were outshot 16-3 in the first period and goalkeeper Lyle Howe (So., Coral Springs, Fla.) needed eight saves to keep the Sharks on top by the break.

Fortunately Gonzalez was able to create an early lead in the 14th minute when Craig Heenighan (Sr., Widnes, England) set him up just outside the penalty box and dead center in front of the goal. Gonzalez put the ball into the top left corner of the net for the highlight reel score.

Four minutes later, Simon Nett (Fr., Grimstad, Norway) took a cross that was picked off by the Lynn (8-7-0, 2-5-0 SSC) defense. Gonzalez showed solid defense and offense by taking the ball away and immediately scoring from the top of the box. The goal marked the third multiple-goal game of his career. Lynn struck back in the 23rd minute but the Sharks were still able to take a 2-1 lead into the half.

In the 60th minute, Hassan improved upon NSU’s lead with his 10th goal of the season. The senior striker dribbled through traffic to the top left corner of the penalty box and rocketed the ball off the cross bar and into the goal. After Lynn answered with a penalty kick, Hassan received a pass from Gonzalez and scored the team’s fourth goal in the 72nd minute. Hassan now has 36 career goals, one away from tying former teammate Romain Onteniente for fourth all-time at NSU.

The Fighting Knights had two players red carded in the 76th minute after a hard foul on Gonzalez, giving the Sharks a 11-9 player advantage for the remainder of the game. Heenighan, who took a team-high six shots, attempted to score in the 80th minute but his shot was deflected by the goalkeeper. Gordon received the rebound from the right side and scored with the keeper’s guard down. NSU made several substitutions after the fifth goal as the game came to a close.

Five goals equals the most goals the team has scored all season and the most the Sharks have scored since the squad’s 7-0 drubbing of North Georgia on Oct. 15, 2008. It is the third time in history the Sharks have defeated the Fighting Knights and the second time in the last 20 years. It also marked the first win against Lynn for any current Shark.

With a spot in next week’s SSC Tournament locked up, the Sharks will wait to see where and who they play in the opening round. Regardless, the tournament will begin Tuesday, Nov. 2.