BOX SCORE

LYNCHBURG, Va. – Senior Ellie Staples (Newport News, Va./Menchville) recorded a goal and an assist and Radford scored three first half goals as it topped Liberty, 3-1 on Saturday afternoon from the LU Multi-purpose Field.

The Highlanders (3-0) found paydirt on their fifth corner of the first half when Staples converted on a stick stop and shot from the top of the circle in the 19th minute. Classmates Lynsey Daughtrey (Suffolk, Va./Lakeland) and Niamh Connolly (Fredericksburg, Va./Chancellor) assisted on the first score of the contest against the Lady Flames (0-1).

Radford gave itself some breathing room going into halftime as senior Marlee Schramm (Mantua, N.J./West Deptford and freshman Ashton Cox (Chesapeake, Va./Western Branch) scored in the final five minute for a 3-0 advantage at the break. The Highlanders held a 13-1 advantage in shots and recorded all six corners.

Schramm took a slip from Staples and rifled home Radford's second corner goal of the contest in the 31st minute. It was her third goal in as many games. Just 3:33 later, Cox corralled her own rebound off the post and finished for her second score of the season in the 34th minute.

In the second half, Radford continued its offensive pressure with 12 more shots and nine corners, but could not find the back of the cage as Liberty keeper Ann Jefferis made nine of her game-high 13 saves.

The Lady Flames, playing their first game in program history, did take advantage of their third corner of the half in the 55th minutes as Helen Doolittle scored the first ever Liberty goal off an assist from Taylor Swalm.

Radford finished the contest with significant advantages in both shots (25-5) and corners (15-3). Senior Courtney Poole (Gloucester, Va./Gloucester) led all players with seven shots, while Schramm chipped in with four.

Sophomore Sidney Encarnacion (Williamsburg, Va./Walsingham Academy) made two saves in the cage for Radford.

The Highlanders head to the east coast next weekend for a pair of contests in Fairfield, Conn. On Friday, they will take on the host Stags and conclude with St. Francis (Pa.) on Saturday. Both games are scheduled for 2 p.m. at Fairfield University.