Box Score BOCA RATON, Fla. - The Nova Southeastern University men's soccer team (2-1-1) fell for the first time in 2014, taking a road loss to the No. 6 Lynn Fighting Knights (5-0-0), 4-0, Wednesday in a nonconference match.
For the second time this season, NSU had to deal with heavy rain at the start of regulation. The match was delayed nearly two hours due to lightning, with the start coming at 6:18 p.m.
The Sharks played an even match with the sixth ranked team in the nation for much of the first half. In the 17th minute,
Andrea Spuntarelli (Sr., Rome, Italy) put forth the Sharks' first threatening attack and forced a diving save by Lynn goalkeeper Max Schmidt. The save resulted in a corner kick in which the Sharks nearly scored on.
Victor Nirennold (So., Rennes, France) put a header on the cross but Schmidt made yet another solid save.
The scoring began for Lynn in the 28th minute. NSU keeper
Andrea Giombetti (Sr., Rome Italy) came out to gather a through ball from Nicolas Mortensen, but Charlie Anderson cleared the ball out of his hands and walked the ball into an open goal. The Fighting Knights capitalized on their momentum to go up 2-0 five minutes later, as Mortensen scored off of a corner kick. The Sharks took advantage of possession through the rest of the half and did not allow another Lynn shot before halftime.
The Sharks came out in the second half with an aggressive style. NSU forced two highlight reel diving saves within the first seven of the second half, but NSU could not convert on four set pieces within the first 10 minutes of the half.
With a multiple goal lead, Lynn sat back and looked to counterattack. In the 61st minute, Lynn's Mortensen scored again from the right side of the box. It was only the Fighting Knights' second shot of the second half and the first legitimate threat.
The home team continued to play conservative with the three-goal lead and made it difficult for the Sharks to get clear looks at goal.
Guido Riffeser (Jr., Bolzano, Italy) had a solid chance in the 65th minute, but his strike was fired wide from the top of the box. NSU's final attack came from 20 yards out by
Victor Cardoso (Sr., Sao Paulo, Brazil). Schmidt made his sixth save to seal his clean sheet. With 35 seconds remaining, Lynn scored their final goal on a strike from Chris Hellmann.
The Sharks will look to rebound with a match against old rivals St. Thomas at home Saturday, Sept. 20 at 4:30 p.m.
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