MATTHEWS, N.C. | Matthews Sportsplex - No.12 and third-seeded McKendree University men's soccer (15-1-7, 8-0-6 GLVC) concluded another historic season on Thursday night in the NCAA Division II National Semifinal, falling 3-1 to top-ranked and second-seeded Lynn in a lengthy battle. McKendree was handed its first true blemish of the year in the semifinal bout, still collecting 15 victories on the year which ties the program's DII mark (2019). The Bearcats added the program's first unbeaten regular season while also collecting two major conference awards, six All-GLVC selections, four D2CCA postseason honorees, and five United Soccer Coaches All-Midwest selections. The trip to the NCAA DII National Semifinals was the program's first appearance at the final site after defeating top-seeded Saginaw Valley State, sixth-seeded Findlay, and 10th-seeded Fort Hays State, which punched the Bearcats' ticket to the semis.
The Bearcats and Fighting Knights entered the game as NCAA DII's top two defensive squads with the game looking to be defined by those standards. McKendree and Lynn both pushed early with the Knights going up in the 20th minute, 1-0. The response by the Bearcats was emphatic and quick, as freshman midfielder Matthaeus Hirschmann scoring in the 27th minute. Hirschmann made a long run with junior forward Rezhis Koxhaj , who battled to drop a short cross to the box. Off of Kozhaj's dish-out, Hirschmann flicked the ball across the goal, beyond the keeper's reach for the score. The game went into halftime tied at 1-1.
In the second half, Lynn managed to score in the 49th to take the lead with the Bearcats unable to make a push back to knot the game once again. The Knights tallied another score late to put the game out of the Bearcats' reach.
The historic season concludes for the Bearcats in the semifinal round, which marked McKendree's first national semifinal appearance of the DII era. The Bearcats' campaign was highlighted by both team and individual successes, including the first unbeaten regular season slate (11-0-6) while adding a multitude of postseason award nods along with major award selections for sophomore goalkeeper Christian Herluf and graduate defender Matteo Schubert.
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