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Creation Date
2014
Description
2014: NATIONAL CHAMPIONS! 23 Leads Lynn Men’s Soccer to 23rd National Title
Louisville, Ky. – Two goals moments into the match shell shocked the No. 1 team in the nation and Lynn University's third-ranked men's soccer team withstood a late offensive push to defeat Charleston (W.Va.) 3-2 to claim the 2014 NCAA Division II National Championship. This is the 23rd national title in school history and the fifth for the men's soccer program, including the second national crown in the last three years.
Lynn's men's soccer team has now claimed NCAA titles in 2014, 2012 and 2003 and NAIA crowns in 1991 and 1987 and joins the women's golf team with five total championships. Both programs trail women's tennis, which has six titles.
Chris Hellmann scored twice, giving him a nation-leading 28 goals and 69 points while adding his 10th game-winner, in being named the tournament's Most Outstanding Offensive Player. Jason Sangha was honored as the tournament's Most Outstanding Defensive Player for the second time in his career. Joining Hellmann and Sangha on the all-tournament team was Nicolas Mortensen and Lukas Zlatarits.
Highlights from the Season:
- Lynn won the Sunshine State Conference regular season & tournament titles en route to claiming the University's 23rd national title, and fifth for the men's soccer program. This is just the second time a school has claimed the trifecta, joining the 2003 Fighting Knights squad.
- The team went 5-0 against nationally-ranked teams, including wins over the top-ranked Charleston (W.Va.) and No. 2 Young Harris.
- Notched an All-American for the 13th consecutive year and 28th time in 29 seasons.
- Jason Sangha became the second player in school history to honored as a four-time All-American.
- Lynn became the first school in SSC history to earn Player, Offensive Player, Defensive Player and Coach of the Year accolades.
- John Rootes won SSC Coach of the Year honors for the first time in his career.
- Chris Hellmann led the nation in goals (29), goals per game (1.33), points (69) and points per game (3.29) and was tied for second in assists (13).
- Hellmann also finished with the second most goals and points for a single season in Lynn history and the most in NCAA competition in the program's history.
