By Chad Beattie
BOCA RATON, Fla. – Lynn University’s national runner-up men’s soccer team announced its 2012 schedule on Wednesday. The Fighting Knights will face three nationally-ranked opponents in addition to the rigors of Sunshine State Conference play as they prepare for another title run.
“We have a very favorable schedule this year and with the talent we have coming back, I think we could accomplish some big things in 2012,” said head coach John Rootes. “But with the NCAA eliminating one of the South Region bids from four to three, competition is going to be fierce. The Sunshine State Conference is one of the top leagues in the country and any team can win on any given day.”
Opening the season August 31, on the road, the Blue & White travel to North Carolina to take on Lees-McRea College and later King College on September 3, before returning home to host the annual Wyndham Boca Raton Soccer Classic from September 7-8. Lynn faces Ave Maria before battling 25th-ranked Anderson for the third consecutive year.
The Fighting Knights begin Sunshine State Conference play on September 12, when they host Saint Leo. Lynn also hosts No. 20 Rollins, Tampa and Florida Southern in league action and hits the road for matches at 13th-ranked Barry, Nova Southeastern, Eckerd and Florida Tech.
This year the SSC has entered into a plus-four schedule with each league school selected to face four conference opponents in non-conference play. Lynn travels to Florida Southern mid-year but closes out the regular season with Saint Leo on the road and matches against Barry and Florida Tech in the friendly confines of the McCusker Sports Complex on October 24 and 27.
Lynn reached the NCAA Division II national championship in 2011 before falling to Fort Lewis 3-2 in overtime. The Fighting Knights return nine starters from last year’s squad, including All-Americans Heiko Eberhardt in the midfield and Jason Sangha in the defense.