RADFORD – In a loss at Campbell prior to a 10-day layoff for the Radford women's soccer team, head coach Ben Sohrabi didn't have had a lot of highlights to discuss after a fourth-straight defeat to close the season's first half.

But he made sure to harp on the standout performances of freshman Mary Wiley (Radford, Va./Radford) and sophomore goalkeeper Lisa Lubke (Columbus, Ohio/St. Francis DeSales) through the first nine games.   

Their solid play continued into the second half, as Wiley's goal in the 54th minute, combined with Lubke's five-save shutout, led Radford to a 1-0 win over UNC Asheville in the Big South women's soccer season opener for both teams on Friday night.

“These two stepped up like upperclassmen tonight,” Sohrabi said.  “They got it done for us at a crucial time.”

“Everybody on the field just wanted to win,” Wiley said.  “We've had a tough pre-conference season, and we just wanted to find a way to finish tonight.”

Wiley got a thru ball in the middle from senior Justine Dugger (Purcellville, Va./Notre Dame Academy), gave a short dribble, and knocked in a 10-yard shot to tally the game-winner for the Highlanders (4-6-0, 1-0-0 Big South).

In fact, her time with the ball was so short, she says she didn't even realize what happened.

“I didn't even see the goal, honestly.  Justine just played an awesome ball, I toe-poked it, and next thing I know Caitlyn Roan is screaming my name.”

“This is what I expected out of her and it's why I recruited her,” Sohrabi said of the former Radford High School star.

Lubke was forced to make five saves en route to her eighth career shutout, and second of the season, including four stops in the first half that served as an early test following a long break.

“It wasn't as challenging, because you know what to expect when game time rolls around,” Lubke said.  “We worked on a lot of shooting and a lot of finishing, so I got plenty of practice in the down time.”

“Lisa held everything tonight,” Sohrabi said.  “They had some great chances, and she didn't make any mistakes.”

The great chances for UNC Asheville (3-4-1, 0-1-0), which outshot Radford 8-4, began early.  In the 18th minute, the Bulldogs tried to take an early lead when Katy Beeler played a pass from Leilani Halkiotis and ripped a shot at a sprawling Lubke.

Chloe McCleary-Small had a pair of opportunities to tie the game for UNC Asheville in the second half.  Her first came in the 62nd minute on a thru ball from Halkiotis to the far side, where McCleary-Small got past her defender and sent a high shot just outside the goal post.  Five minutes later, she beat her defender on the near side and hit another attempt barely beyond the post.

“We have to be more solid in the back,” Sohrabi said.  “Our defense has to be more compact and not be as loose as we were tonight.

“Regardless, this is a good win for us against a good team.  It's a big confidence boost and I'm really happy to be 1-0.”

As it turned out, all the Highlanders needed to be 1-0, was to win 1-0.  

“When it comes down to it, you've just got to buckle down and do it in conference,” Lubke said.  “Coach says that if we score, we're gonna win. “

Radford returns to Big South action on Sunday, hosting Presbyterian at 2 p.m.  UNC Asheville travels to VMI for a 1 p.m. kickoff on Sunday.

NOTE: Lubke's eighth career shutout moves her into a tie for sixth all-time at Radford with Amy Pseja (1993), and needs one more to become fifth… she had six in 2008.