RADFORD – Two weeks into the men's soccer season, the wait to come home is over as Radford hosts East Tennessee State at Cupp Stadium on Friday night.

With two games under their belts, the 2009 season has already been an unusual one for the Highlanders. After traveling to Cincinnati and having the scheduled season opener at Xavier wiped out due to a flu outbreak Sept. 1, Radford's (1-1-0) next two games were decided by own goals in a win at Appalachian State on Sept. 4 and a loss at Longwood on Tuesday night.

Radford kicks off its Cupp Stadium schedule following a successful home season in 2008. The Highlanders were 5-1-1 on their pitch and established a new school record by winning their 11th straight home match last October.

History is also on the line Friday night for Radford, with the program's 300th all-time win in sights. With a season-opening 3-2 win at Appalachian State last week, the Highlanders won their 299th game as a program. Since beginning varsity soccer in 1975, Radford is 299-274-56.

A pair of freshmen, James Jordan and Brian Gwanzura, lead the way on the scoresheet. Jordan was the difference in the win last week, scoring in 74th minute on a shot that deflected off a Mountaineer defender and in the net to give the Highlanders a 3-2 lead. Gwanzura added a first half goal for Radford to give the Highlanders a 2-1 lead.

ETSU, a second-year program, is 1-1-0 this season and coming off a 2-0 win at home over VMI last Friday. In last November's meeting between the Highlanders and Buccaneers, ETSU followed up a scoreless 90 minutes of regulation by scoring off a rebounded penalty kick 48 seconds into overtime to slip past Radford, 1-0. 

A foul in the Radford box gave the Buccaneers a penalty kick at the start of overtime.  Tyler Hoek's try was stopped by former goalkeeper Zach Roszel, but Mohsen Pourmorteza collected the loose ball and knocked it into the net, lifting ETSU to the win.

The Highlanders play their second straight at home Wednesday night (Sept. 16), hosting Davidson at 7 p.m.