Defending National Champions Lynn Forecasted to Win a Second Consecutive SSC Men’s Soccer Title in 2025

Defending National Champions Lynn Forecasted to Win a Second Consecutive SSC Men’s Soccer Title in 2025

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ORLANDO, Fla. - Sunshine State Conference men's soccer coaches tab defending national champion Lynn as the preseason favorite in 2025. With 100 points and 10 first-place votes in the poll, the Fighting Knights receive the most points possible, as they are expected to win the program's 12th regular-season title.

Florida Tech finishes in second place with 84 points and eight second-place votes. Rollins pulls 74 points to sit alone in third place. Tampa garners 70 points to anchor the fourth spot, while Nova Southeastern earns 65 points and the final first-place vote to finish fifth. Barry sits in the middle of the poll (63 points) and is followed by Palm Beach Atlantic (55 points) and Saint Leo (29 points). Florida Southern (28 points), Eckerd (19 points), and Embry-Riddle (18 points) occupy the final three positions in the poll.

2025 SSC MEN'S SOCCER SCHEDULE | SSC MEN’S SOCCER RECORDS

Last season, Lynn won the program's 11th SSC regular-season title after finishing the season with 26 points in conference play. The Fighting Knights bested the Tars in the SSC Tournament final to earn the program's league-leading seventh postseason trophy and first since 2019.

Only Lynn earned a berth in the 2024 NCAA Division II Postseason Tournament. They were given the #2 seed despite entering the tournament with an undefeated record.  The Fighting Knights relinquished just one goal in the first three rounds of the tournament, as they defeated West Florida and Coker 1-0, then beat Clayton St. 2-1 in the regional final. In the Final Four, the second-ranked Fighting Knights defeated McKendree 3-1. They then beat Charleston (WV) 3-2 in the national championship game to win the program’s fourth national title.

Since 2010, 12 men's soccer teams have reached the national quarterfinals, and 11 have advanced to the national semifinals. Seven teams have advanced to the national title game, with four walking away with a championship trophy. Lynn (4), Tampa (3), Florida Tech (2), and Barry (1) boast all 10 of the SSC's men's soccer national championships.

Last season, the league boasted six All-American honors. Additionally, United Soccer Coaches named Lynn’s Henry Haferkorn National Player of the Year. Haferkorn (1st) and teammates Luca Clavero (2nd) and Luis Kiefer (3rd), along with Rollins’ Jorge Lameiras (2nd), took home United Soccer Coaches accolades. Haferkorn (1st) also earned a D2CCA nod along with Clavero (2nd). 

Six teams open up the SSC non-conference season with matches on Thursday, September 4th. The conference schedule kicks off with four games on Saturday, September 20th. Lynn (No. 1) represents the SSC in the 2025 United Soccer Coaches NCAA Division II preseason men's poll. The ranking was announced on Thursday, July 31st.

Below are the full results of the 2025 SSC preseason coaches' poll. Coaches cannot vote for their teams (points: 10-9-8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1, first-place votes in parentheses).

 2025 SSC MEN'S SOCCER PRESEASON COACHES POLL

Rank

School

Total

1

Lynn

100 (10)

2

Florida Tech

84

3

Rollins

74

4

Tampa

70

5

Nova Southeastern

65 (1)

6

Barry

63

7

Palm Beach Atlantic

55

8

Saint Leo

29

9

Florida Southern

28

10

Eckerd

19

11

Embry-Riddle

18

See Also: SSC All-Americans | All-SSC Teams | SSC Champions | 2024 Standings

Previous SSC Men's Soccer Polls

Year Predicted Regular Season Winner Regular Season Finish Regular Season
Champion
Predicted
Finish
Tournament
Champion
Predicted Regular Season Finish
2024 Barry 7th Lynn 3rd Lynn 3rd
2023 Barry 1st Barry 1st Barry 1st
2022 Nova Southeastern 5th Barry 6th Florida Tech 8th
2021 Lynn 3rd Palm Beach Atlantic / Tampa 2nd / 5th Nova Southeastern 3rd
2020 No Season Due to COVID-19
2019 Palm Beach Atlantic 3rd Lynn 2nd Lynn 2nd
2018 Palm Beach Atlantic 1st Palm Beach Atlantic 1st Palm Beach Atlantic 1st
2017 Lynn 3rd Palm Beach Atlantic 2nd Tampa 3rd
2016 Saint Leo 7th Lynn T2nd Lynn T2nd
2015 Lynn T4th Saint Leo 2nd Rollins 4th
2014 Saint Leo 2nd Lynn 3rd Lynn 3rd
2013 Rollins 2nd Saint Leo 5th Barry 7th
2012 Lynn 1st Lynn 1st Rollins 3rd
2011 Barry 4th Lynn 5th Rollins 3rd
2010 Barry T1st Barry/Rollins 1st / T3rd Tampa T3rd
2009 Tampa T1st Rollins/Tampa 3rd / 1st Barry 6th
2008 Tampa 2nd Lynn 2nd Lynn 2nd
2007 Lynn 1st Lynn 1st Tampa 4th
2006 Lynn 2nd Rollins 4th Tampa 5th
2005 Lynn 2nd Saint Leo 5th N/A N/A
2004 Lynn T3rd Rollins 3rd Lynn 1st
2003 Lynn 1st Lynn 1st Lynn 1st
2002 Barry 1st Barry 1st N/A N/A
2001 Barry 3rd Tampa 3rd N/A N/A
2000 Lynn 2nd Barry 2nd N/A N/A