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NO. 9 COASTAL CAROLINA ON SATURDAY

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Radford takes on its toughest test of the season, and looks to remain unbeaten in Big South action, when the Highlanders welcome No. 9 Coastal Carolina to Cupp Stadium on Saturday for a 2 p.m. matchup.

Coastal (14-1-2, 8-0-0 Big South) is the highest ranked team to visit Radford since then-No. 5 North Carolina met the Highlanders at Cupp Stadium on Sept. 29, 2009. The Chanticleers were ranked ninth in two of the major polls (Soccer America, NSCAA/Continental Tire) entering this week.

“We go into every game regardless of opponent or location with the mindset to play to our strengths, exploit some weaknesses and find a way to win the game,” head coach Marc Reeves said. “Our group is excited to get a Top-10 nationally-ranked team here at Cupp and we are hopeful to get a big, energized crowd to boost our level of play.”

For Radford (8-3-4, 6-0-1), the match is an important one – the Highlanders sit second in the Big South standings with 19 points, trailing Coastal, while looking to earn one of the top four spots and a home quarterfinal match in the upcoming Big South Tournament. Liberty is third, behind Radford with 16 points, while Campbell has 15 and sits in fourth place.

“We will need to continue to pass and attack well, and for sure our defending and goalkeeper will need to be ready against this potent and fast-paced attack,” Reeves said. “We will need to remain focused and ready to make big plays.”

HIGHLANDER NOTES

Coastal is the second ranked team on Radford's schedule this season – the Highlanders tied then-No. 25 High Point 0-0 in their last Big South outing (Saturday, Oct. 20).
The Highlanders entered the week with the 28th-best winning percentage among NCAA Division I teams (.714).
Radford remains unbeaten in Big South play through its first seven conference matches, good for the best league start in program history.
Saturday's contest is a matchup of the Big South's top scorers, Radford's Bernardo Ulmo and Coastal's Ashton Bennett – Ulmo is the league's leader and 15th in the nation in points per game (1.64), and leads the conference and ranks 18th nationally in goals per game (0.71). Bennett trails Ulmo in both categories, but has played in two more contests than Ulmo and is the league's overall leader in goals (11) and points (25).
In Big South play, the Highlanders have been dominant – Radford has outshot opponents 125-57, including 65-19 on frame, on the way to outscoring league foes 18-4.
Ryan Taylor's 0.79 goals against average is 30th in the nation – Radford's team goals against average is 26th among NCAA teams (0.79).
Radford has three different players that have earned Big South Player of the Week honors (Dario Redondo – Defensive Sept. 24; Bernardo Ulmo – Attacking Oct. 9; James Jordan – Defensive Oct. 15), tied for the most among league teams.

THE MATCHUP

Coastal leads the all-time series with Radford 15-12-3
Radford and Coastal tied 1-1 the last time the two teams matched up at Cupp Stadium on Oct. 30, 2010
Coastal beat Radford 4-1 last season (Oct. 9) at home – the Chanticleers were ranked No. 23 at the time
Coastal is unbeaten over its last 15 matches and has won 11 in a row
With a win, the Chanticleers can clinch the Big South regular season title

UP NEXT

Radford continues its season-closing homestand on Tuesday, Oct. 30 when the Highlanders host Liberty at 6 p.m.

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