Lynn University’s men’s soccer team will open the 2026 NCAA Division II Men’s Soccer Championship against Auburn University at Montgomery at 3 p.m. Friday, Nov. 13, at Saints Field in St. Augustine, Fla. Lynn earned the No. 9 seed in Super Region 2, while Auburn Montgomery is the No. 8 seed. The matchup follows Lynn’s third consecutive Sunshine State Conference Tournament championship under head coach John Rootes.
Lynn defeated Florida Southern 3-2 in double overtime on Nov. 8 to secure the title. The victory made Lynn the first program in Sunshine State Conference men’s soccer history to win three consecutive conference tournament championships. The championship also marked Lynn Athletics’ 55th Sunshine State Conference title and 34th conference tournament crown.
Lynn builds NCAA momentum with postseason run
Lynn enters the national tournament with four consecutive victories. The run began with a 3-1 victory over Tampa in the regular-season finale on Oct. 28, followed by a 2-0 win over Barry in the Sunshine State Conference Tournament quarterfinals on Nov. 3. Lynn then defeated Rollins 4-3 in overtime on Nov. 5 before rallying past Florida Southern in the championship match.
Against Rollins, Robin Muenst, Fabian Wagner and Lukas Egarter scored during Lynn’s comeback from a 1-0 halftime deficit. Luan Barroso Rennstich completed the semifinal win with a golden goal at 103:32, while goalkeeper Julian Marcos made a pivotal overtime save before the deciding play. Lynn then overcame a 2-0 halftime deficit against Florida Southern, with Fabian Vyhnalek scoring at 50:52 and Muenst equalizing at 88:46 before a Florida Southern own goal at 103:04 settled the championship.
Muenst was named the Sunshine State Conference Tournament Most Valuable Player after recording a goal and two assists in the semifinal against Rollins and scoring Lynn’s equalizer in the championship match. He entered the conference championship final with nine goals and eight assists. Lynn outscored its four postseason opponents 12-6, while Rootes earned his seventh Sunshine State Conference Tournament championship as head coach.
The title also gave Lynn’s men’s soccer program its 20th Sunshine State Conference championship, including 11 regular-season titles and nine tournament crowns. Fabian Wagner scored his seventh goal of the season in the semifinal against Rollins and assisted on Barroso Rennstich’s game-winning goal. The conference tournament championship sent Lynn into the NCAA field after a postseason run built on late goals and overtime victories.
Auburn Montgomery matchup opens regional bracket
The winner of Friday’s match will advance to face top-seeded Flagler at 3 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 15, at Saints Field. The second-round matchup will remain in St. Augustine. Lynn’s opening-round assignment comes after the program secured its third consecutive Sunshine State Conference Tournament championship.
Lynn’s NCAA path
The 2026 NCAA Division II Men’s Soccer Championship national championship is scheduled for Saturday, Dec. 5, at 1 p.m. at CPKC Stadium in Kansas City, Mo. The tournament schedule includes the following dates and matchups:
- Friday, Nov. 13, 2026: No. 8 Auburn Montgomery vs. No. 9 Lynn, 3 p.m., Saints Field, St. Augustine, Fla.
- Sunday, Nov. 15, 2026: No. 1 Flagler vs. the Auburn Montgomery-Lynn winner, 3 p.m., Saints Field, St. Augustine, Fla.
- Friday, Nov. 20, 2026: NCAA Third Round.
- Sunday, Nov. 22, 2026: NCAA National Quarterfinals.
- Thursday, Dec. 3, 2026: NCAA National Semifinals.
- Saturday, Dec. 5, 2026: NCAA Division II National Championship, 1 p.m., CPKC Stadium, Kansas City, Mo.
FSB Take
Lynn’s conference championship secured a regional berth and placed the team in a bracket where its first two potential matches are scheduled at Saints Field. The immediate challenge is Auburn Montgomery, with a victory sending Lynn into a second-round matchup against No. 1 seed Flagler. Lynn’s recent results show a team that has already handled both regulation and overtime pressure during its championship run.
Source: Original report