Box Score
RADFORD, Va. – Senior Latrice Leescored both goals, including the game-winner with less than three minutes left in double overtime to lift Radford women's soccer past VMI, 2-1 on senior night.
Lee's goal in the 108th minute completed the comeback and helped the Highlanders (12-6-1, 6-2-1 Big South) pull out a victory for her team and fellow classmates. Her multi-goal effort pushed Lee's season total to five.
“I did not want us to lose on senior night,” said Lee. “I started to get nervous, but when the ball went into the back of the net I was just happy to send my classmates and team off with a win.”
Radford, the host of the 2010 Big South Championship (Nov. 4-7), will find out its seed for the tournament tomorrow evening after the league's regular season wraps up. The one thing they do know is that as the host, the Highlanders will play at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 4.
On the game-winner, freshman Julie Ruh'e slipped the ball to Lee, who made one move and toe-poked it past VMI keeper Heidi Beemer near post. It was Ruh'e's team-leading sixth assist.
“I was able to get a nice toe poke on the ball and I didn't even know where it went other than in the back of the net,” commented Lee.
The Highlanders out shot the Keydets, 33-5 and held a 16-7 advantage in corner kicks. The VMI goalkeeper duo of Angela Redmond (5 saves/0 goals) and Beemer (6 saves/2 goals) kept Radford off the board for the majority of the match.
“I give a lot of credit to VMI,” said head coach Ben Sohrabi. “They played a smart tactical game.”
Despite the Radford's shot advantage, VMI (3-15-1, 2-6-1) struck first in the 59th minute. Christelle headed home a cross from Carolyn Kenaley to put the Keydet up 1-0.
However, Lee would net the equalizer at 69:33 on a nice individual move into the left side of the box and then roofing it into the net.
“I'm proud of Latrice Lee and her ability to step up with the two goals that helped us win this match,” stated Sohrabi.
Radford had two golden opportunities to win it in the 73rd minute. Lee had a low shot from about 10 yards pushed wide of the post by Beener.
Just seconds after Lee's attempt, fellow senior Kathleen Jarvis looked like she found the far post with a blast, but a VMI defender on the post, got a foot on it and cleared it away.
Radford dominated the run of play for the majority of the first half, but the teams went into the lockerroom scoreless. The Highlanders out shot the Keydets, 17-3 and earned nine corners to VMI's two.
The Highlanders had several scoring opportunities, but Angela Redmond made five saves and the rest of their shots sailed high and wide.
VMI also had three scoring chances in the first stanza, but two shots went just wide and a third, right before halftime was saved by Radford's Alex Traughber.
