Let's take a look at some of the best performances of the week in D2 men's soccer:
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GAME OF THE WEEK: Lynn Stops Pfeiffer Win Streak
FINAL: #4 #LynnMSoccer– 2 #1 @PfeifferSports-1
The Blue & White upset #1 Pfeiffer, ending their 28 game win streak pic.twitter.com/M9kn1wpOyN
— Lynn Athletics (@Lynn_Knights) September 11, 2016
BR-1 Pfeiffer saw its second-longest winning streak in D2 history halted at 28 straight games Sunday, falling to BR-21 Lynn 2-1 in Boca Raton. The match, which pitted the last two national champions (Lynn in 2014 and Pfeiffer last year) ended with Pfeiffer suffering its first loss since November 26, 2014. The Fighting Knights of Lynn got goals from Christoph Maug and Jack Watson in the game, while Pfeiffer's goal-scoring sensation Nathan Regis got one back late for the Falcons.
Lynn is off to a surprise 5-0 start – in what was thought was going to be a bit of a rebuilding year, with just five seniors returning, and several new starters in the lineup. A major help has been the emergence of Watson, a transfer from Mercyhurst, who sat out all of last year with a knee injury.
The Falcons had been off to a good start – and had a much easier time this week with BR-12 Palm Beach Atlantic than with Lynn. It was also an easier time than Pfeiffer had with PBA in last year's NCAA tournament. Pfeiffer beat the Fish 5-2 on Friday, with Regis scoring two goals and Santi Moar getting three assists. That was a far different ending than in last year's NCAA tournament Round of Eight, when Pfeiffer was down 4-3 with under five minutes to play. After an equalizing goal, Pfeiffer's Cristobal Allendes scored with one second on the clock to send Pfeiffer through to the Final Four, and on, eventually, to the national title.
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MILESTONE OF THE WEEK: Lynn Gets 400th Win For Rootes
Watson Carries #LynnMSoccer to @Jrootes 400th Career Win
Read here | https://t.co/wh9Y3070VK pic.twitter.com/7z2sooC7RP
— Lynn Athletics (@Lynn_Knights) September 5, 2016
Speaking of Lynn, the Fighting Knights' win earlier in the week over BR-69 Alabama-Huntsville was extra special for coach John Rootes — his 400th career victory. Lynn followed that up with Friday's 2-0 win over BR-172 Spring Hill before the big upset win over Pfeiffer on Sunday.
Rootes is now 402-125-32 in 29 years including two national championships at Lynn (2012 and 2014), and one national title at Southern New Hampshire in 1989.
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OFFENSIVE PERFORMANCE OF THE WEEK: Carson-Newman In Romp Over Flagler
Not a bad sight pic.twitter.com/X1x5jhXidD
— C-N Men's Soccer (@CNmenssoccer) September 10, 2016
Carson-Newman rolled to a 7-0 win over Flagler 7-0 Saturday behind four assists from Tom Read, who also scored once. The four assists are the most for a Carson-Newman player in one match since 1995.
Joining Read in the goal fest for the Eagles were Steven Parry, who scored twice, and Thibault Mathorez, Marius Staalby, Collin Hensel and Tobias Solem Karlsen.
Carson-Newman improved to 2-1 with the win and climbed from BR-21 to BR-18, while Flagler dropped to 0-3-1 and has fallen from BR-16 to BR-29.
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DEFENSIVE PERFORMANCE OF THE WEEK: Shutout Week For Point Loma
While BR-36 Point Loma had a tough time finding the net this week, the defense was among the best in the land, and saved two scoreless draws for the Sea Lions. Point Loma drew 0-0 with BR-107 Chico State on Thursday, but the real impressive performance came Saturday as the Sea Lions held BR-7 Colorado Mines scoreless. The scoreless draw improved Point Loma's record to 1-0-3 on the season.
Goalkeeper Michael Lambert now has played 420 minutes on the season, and given up just one goal, to Cal State LA in a game that ended in a 1-1 draw. The NCAA hasn't done its first run of D2 stats for the season yet, but Lambert's .214 goals-against-average is going to put him among the leaders nationally among teams with more than a couple of games played.
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TURN-AROUNDS OF THE WEEK: Adams State and New Haven
Congrats to Men's Soccer for the best start in school history! 3-0 on the year. #grizzlytough pic.twitter.com/WeOpFukeOV
— ASU Grizzlies (@ASUGrizzlies) September 8, 2016
BR-175 Adams State has already passed last year's win total by getting out to a 3-0 start. The Grizzlies beat Eastern New Mexico 3-2 on Wednesday for their third win of the season, surpassing last year's two total wins.
"This game is another step in the right direction for us but the season is still very young, and in many areas we need to get better," coach Brett Bentley said on the team's website. "The big positive we take away from this trip is our depth. We are fortunate to be able to go to our bench as much as we can with no concerns over the level of play being affected."
ASU, which plays in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference, not only has passed its wins total from last year, but also has already scored more goals, nine, than it did all of last year. The Grizzlies were putting their unbeaten streak on the line Sunday at home against BR-100 Lubbock Christian.
Meanwhile, over on the East Coast, the New Haven Chargers have opened the season 3-0, putting them a game away from their win total of last season, when they were 4-12-1 on the year. BR-164 UNH beat BR-157 Georgian Court 6-3 – the highest goal total put up by the Chargers since 2013 – in their most recent game.
The Chargers, however, also started last season 3-0 before going on a heartbreaking six-game losing streak that included several 1-0 defeats. They won just two games in 2014 and two in 2013, and haven't had a winning record since 2000. Forward/Midfielder Rob Poirier leads the Chargers offensive attack thus far, scoring a goal in each of the three matches.
