BREVARD, N.C. – Junior forward Ryan Lynch totaled his first career hat trick and broke the program's NCAA-era record for single-season and career goals as the Brevard College men's soccer team (8-1-3, 3-0 USA South) extended its unbeaten streak to a program NCAA-era record nine matches as the Tornados held a late Pfeiffer University (1-7-4, 0-3-1 USAS) rally off to take a 3-2 victory on Wednesday evening at Ives-Lemel Family Field.
Lynch, a junior forward from Charlotte, North Carolina, surpassed a pair of BC alumni in the NCAA-era record books, passing BC alumnus Adam Spencer '21 for career goals and Matheus Masukawa '20 for single-season goals. The junior has now recorded 17 career goals and has surged for 10 goals already in the 2022 campaign, with both marks setting new NCAA-era records for BC men's soccer.
With the victory, the Tornados have now gone unbeaten in nine-consecutive matches, setting the new program NCAA-era record mark that was set last season at eight matches.
Lynch's hat trick was the first of his Tornado career, as the junior accounted for all three goals scored by Brevard on just four total shot attempts. Luis dos Santos took three shots for the Tornados and recorded an assist on Lynch's third goal, while Filipe Tchuolkov also assisted on the third goal. Matheus Rossi (8-3) earned his eighth victory of the season in the win.
Pfeiffer's offense was sparked by Caleb Livengood and Nico Soriano, who each scored goals that were set up by assists from Luis Miranda and Nick Ruscetti.
Brevard was able to control the shot category with a 14-9 margin and the Tornados edged the Falcons in corner kick attempts (3-2).
Brevard and Pfeiffer each took a pair of shots through the match's first 21 minutes, as both sides looked to establish themselves. It would be the Falcons who would strike first as Soriano ripped a beautiful goal in from over 30 yards out that found the left corner of the goal, as the visitors took the early advantage in the 25th minute of play.
BC earned a corner kick and Daniel Morgan logged a shot attempt in the ensuing minutes before the Tornados equalized. After a deep clearance, Lynch collected the loose ball from the Pfeiffer defense and beat the goalkeeper on the dribble, slotting the shot home to level the match, 1-1.
Men's Soccer: WATCH the first of @BrevardCollege junior forward Ryan Lynch's three-goal hat trick performance that led BC to its 3-2 win over Pfeiffer, as Lynch became the program NCAA-era career and single-season goal record holder! #NadoNation #d3msoc #d3soccer pic.twitter.com/KZVP1izRu7
— Brevard College Athletics (@BCTornados) October 13, 2022
Brevard doubled its lead in the 38th minute of play, as Lynch took the ball down the left-hand side of the field, cut back to the right to beat a pair of Falcon defenders, and ripped in a curling shot from 25 yards away to give the Tornados their first lead of the match, 2-1. The goal proved the career record-breaker as Lynch moved past Spencer in the record books for NCAA-era career goals.
Men's Soccer: WATCH the second of @BrevardCollege junior forward Ryan Lynch's three-goal hat trick performance that led BC to its 3-2 win over Pfeiffer, as Lynch became the program NCAA-era career and single-season goal record holder! #NadoNation #d3msoc #d3soccer pic.twitter.com/4xWNz416dw
— Brevard College Athletics (@BCTornados) October 13, 2022
Shortly following the intermission, Lynch was able to complete his first collegiate hat trick, using a quality build-up from Tchoulkov and dos Santos to tap in a 48th-minute goal that pushed the Brevard lead to a 3-1 margin. Lynch's third goal of the match gave him his 10th goal of the season, as the junior surpassed Masukawa for the BC NCAA-era single-season record.
Men's Soccer: WATCH the third of @BrevardCollege junior forward Ryan Lynch's three-goal hat trick performance that led BC to its 3-2 win over Pfeiffer, as Lynch became the program NCAA-era career and single-season goal record holder! #NadoNation #d3msoc #d3soccer pic.twitter.com/yZbfikxpKF
— Brevard College Athletics (@BCTornados) October 13, 2022
The Tornados and Falcos traded shots and attacking chances over the next 25 minutes before Pfeiffer found its second goal of the contest. Miranda had a shot blocked, but the deflection was collected by Ruscetti who then played in a cross that found a sprinting Livengood, who one-timed it into the right side of the goal as the Falcons managed to claw back into the match with just 16 minutes remaining.
BC's defense was able to hold firm over the last moments of the match, allowing just one shot attempt while frustrating Falcon attackers who were shown a pair of yellow cards down the stretch. Brevard closed out its third conference win in as many matches, taking the home victory 3-2.
The Tornados will now prepare for a 1 p.m. meeting against NC Wesleyan University on Saturday at 1 p.m. as match one of a doubleheader at Ives-Lemel Family Field with the BC women's soccer team.
To follow the latest news and updates surrounding Brevard College Athletics, follow the Tornados on Twitter and Instagram @bctornados, subscribe to 'Brevard College Tornados' on YouTube, follow 'Brevard College Tornados' on SoundCloud, and 'Brevard College Athletics' on Facebook. In addition, follow 'brevardcollege' on Flickr for photos from Brevard College events.
-BC-