CHARLESTON, S.C. – Jillie Johnston's golden goal in the 99th minute gave High Point a 1-0 victory in the semifinals of the Big South women's soccer tournament on Friday night at Blackbaud Stadium.

Radford (9-11-0) sophomore goalkeeper Lisa Lubke (Columbus, Ohio/St. Francis DeSales) made a career-best 13 saves for the sixth-seeded Highlanders, including a leaping grab on Sarah Rager's shot with five seconds left in regulation time.

Seventh-seeded High Point (6-15-1) finally ended it 8:48 into the first overtime as Laura Shupe's cross found the head of Johnston, who was just off the goal line and redirected it into the back of the net for the her first goal of the season and the game-winner.

Lubke kept High Point at bay in the first half, saving five shots and picking a couple of crosses out of mid-air to avoid goal-scoring opportunities for the Panthers as well.  High Point managed 10 shots in the first half while Radford had four shots, putting two on goal.

The offensive barrage continued in the second half for High Point, including another 13 shots in the second half, six of which came in the last three minutes of the second half.

Radford had the first good opportunity to end it in the first overtime when sophomore Maryellen Derenda's (Manassas, Va./Osbourn Park) header would have found the corner of the net if not for the outstretched arms of goalkeeper Marisa Abbott, who finished the game with seven saves.

High Point finished with 25 total shots putting 14 of them on frame.  Radford had 16 shots, putting three on goal.  Abbott earned the victory in 98:48 of action with seven saves.  

The Panthers are the first No. 7 seed to play for the championship.  It also marks the first time in Big South history that the bottom two seeds will square off for the tournament crown.

POST-GAME QUOTES

Radford Head Coach Ben Sohrabi

“It was an intense match between two tough teams that battled the whole way. High Point did a great job, and I think both teams knew that it was going to come down to whoever got the first goal, and they got it. We had our chances, and they finished theirs.”

High Point Head Coach Marty Beall

“I thought we played really well tonight. You got to give a lot of credit to Radford and their defending. Especially their goalkeeper, she was brilliant tonight. I think tonight shows the resilience of this squad and how bad they want to win the championship.”

(From Big South reports)