MEN'S SOCCER RETURNS HOME, HOSTS MARIST AND MARSHALL

NOW PLAYING: Men's Soccer Update with Marc Reeves

RU TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE
Friday, Sept. 14
Marshall vs. UNC Asheville - 4:30 p.m. | Live Stats
Marist vs. Radford - 7:00 p.m. | Live Stats | @RUGameDay | Big South Network Video

Sunday, Sept. 16
Marist vs. UNC Asheville - 1:00 p.m. | Live Stats
Marshall vs. Radford - 4:00 p.m. | Live Stats | @RUGameDay | Big South Network Video

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Radford plays its first home matches of the 2012 season, and welcomes tournament action to Cupp Stadium on Friday and Sunday, as part of a home-opening weekend that features matchups with Marist and Marshall.

The Highlanders (2-1-1) and Marist square off on Friday night at 7 p.m., while Marshall is Radford's Sunday opponent at 4 p.m.

Rounding out the foursome is Big South foe UNC Asheville – the Highlanders and Bulldogs (1-4-0) won't play this weekend, but will instead match up in Asheville on Oct. 13.

HOME FIELD ADVANTAGE | Join the No. 9 Ultras Group

Cupp Stadium's Bermuda grass surface has been kind to the Highlanders over the past two seasons – Radford is 8-1-2 at home in regular season play, outscoring opponents 25-6. In addition, the Highlanders have won each of their home openers over that stretch (2010 – Liberty, 1-0; 2011 – Elon, 5-1).

Arguably, the most critical element has been home attendance – since the advent of the No. 9 Ultras student fan group in 2010, Radford has ranked in the Top-35 nationally in home attendance in each of the last two seasons (out of 200+ Division I teams).

HIGHLANDER NOTES

Radford lost for the first time in 2012 last weekend, when a penalty kick in the second overtime sunk the Highlanders in a 2-1 decision at ETSU. Bernardo Ulmo scored for the second time this season to give Radford a 1-0 lead in the 7th minute, an advantage that held up until ETSU scored the equalizer in the 81st minute.

Ulmo is the first Radford player with two goals this season – the Brazilian midfielder has seven career goals in two and a half seasons.

Youth has been served on the field – Radford has played 12 regulars in its rotation (150 minutes or more), including six first-year players.

THE MATCHUPS

Marist and Radford will line up opposite each other for the first time ever on Friday – the Red Foxes (2-3-0) are 2-1 in their last three matches, including wins at New Hampshire and NJIT, and a 3-1 road loss at then-No. 20 NC State. Marist was picked in the upper half of the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference preseason poll after going 8-7-5 last season, including eight shutouts.

Sunday's matchup between Radford and Marshall is the first since the Thundering Herd picked up a 3-1 win over the Highlanders in 2010 – the two teams are meeting for the 10th time, with Radford leading the series 4-3-2.

Marshall is 4-0-1 this season and is the nation's only side that hasn't allowed a goal, outscoring opponents 12-0.

UP NEXT

Radford continues its three-match homestand on Saturday, Sept. 22 with the Big South opener against Campbell at 6 p.m.

MEN'S SOCCER RETURNS HOME, HOSTS MARIST AND MARSHALL

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