WINTER PARK, Fla.—The Barry University men’s soccer team ended its season with a 1-1 tie in the South Region Final against arch-rival Lynn at Sandspur Field on Sunday. The Bucs fell in the subsequant shootout 3-1.
The Bucs (12-3-6) found themselves in the same position as last fall. After defeating the #1 seeded Rollins Tars, they faced off against rival Lynn for the third time in a season.
The Bucs struggled offensively to find any sort of rhythm and could not connect on a number of their passes. However, they battled hard and went into the intermission knotted up at zero.
Lynn (13-4-3) broke the scoreless tie in the 58th minute when Stefan Wolf found the back of the net for the game’s first goal, but the Bucs quickly retaliated. Just 0:28 seconds after the Fighting Knight’s goal, Randy Taylor connected for the equalizer and it seemed momentarily that the Bucs had regained the momentum.
Lynn held a 7-2 shooting advantage over the Bucs in both periods in regulation, but in overtime the Bucs found themselves creating more chances but to no avail. Finally the game would be decided by a penalty kick shootout, the third for the Bucs in their last five matches. The Bucs defeated the Fighting Knights in a shootout during the SSC Tournament Semifinal, but they would not be as fortunate on this night.
Junior Goalkeeper Matt DiCerbo would come up clutch in the shootout as he would save three of the four shots he faced. Marc Rafols was the only Buccaneer to convert on his attempt and the Buc’s season would come to an end in the NCAA Tournament for the second time in as many years.