BOONE, N.C. – In a match that featured four ties and three lead changes, senior
Holly LoJacono (Prince Frederick, Md.) scored in the 57th minute to give Radford a 5-4 victory at Appalachian State in the regular season finale for both teams. Five different Highlanders tallied goals, helping them improve to 9-10 on the year.
Radford will be the fourth seed and face host Longwood in the first game of the 2008 NorPac Championships at 1 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 6 at the Athletics Complex in Farmville, Va.
Trailing 4-3 after Nicole Morgan put Appalachian State ahead 1:39 into the second half, freshman
Niamh Connolly (Fredericksburg, Va.) tied the game in the 46th minute, banging home her own rebound. It was her fourth goal in her last five games.
On Radford's 16th penalty corner of the match, LoJacono tapped in the game-winner off of sophomore
Lara Cariker's (Fredericksburg, Va.) pass to the left of the cage. It was LoJacono's third goal of the season and Cariker's team-leading seventh helper.
In a wild first half, the teams went into the locker room tied 3-3. The Mountaineers struck early when Lauren Kloeppinger put them on top, 1-0, just 1:40 into the match scoring off her own rebound.
The Highlanders scored 5:23 apart to take a 2-1 lead. Senior
Alex Wladich (Manasquan, N.J.) tied the match at 13:59 with her fifth goal of the season off an assist from freshman
Madonna Wadolowski (Norwalk, Conn.). Freshman
Courtney Poole (Gloucester, Va.) gave the Highlanders their first lead of the match at 19:22, starting a three-goal surge between both teams. Her classmate Connolly set up the goal, the first assist of her collegiate career.
The lead did not last long as Morgan tied it 51 seconds later. Radford attacked right off the restart and Wadolowski found paydirt, helping the Highlanders regain the lead just 25 seconds after Morgan's goal.
Kelly Allaband closed out the first half scoring with a goal in the 31st minute off a feed from Jessie Harris.
Radford finished holding significant advantages in both shots (17-8) and corners (15-3). Mountaineer keeper Sabra Holt made nine saves.
