RADFORD AND HIGH POINT END KNOTTED WITHOUT A SCORE

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RADFORD, Va. - In cold, wet, and windy conditions Wednesday at Cupp Stadium, the Radford men's soccer team and High Point battled to a scoreless draw after 110 minutes.

RU outshot the Panthers 14-12 in all and tripled HPU in corners, 6-2. High Point put more shots on frame, 6-3, but in the end, neither team was able to capitalize with a goal on a number of quality looks for both teams.

"The weather conditions made this a tough game for both teams," Radford head coach Marc Reeves said. "It turned into a tight battle. Both sides had some good chances to win, but a tie is probably a fair outcome."

Joe Mayer nearly gave the Highlanders the lead in just the 2nd minute when his header beat High Point keeper, Kody Palmer. Palmer's teammate saved the ball from the net to preserve what would become a shutout 108 minutes later.

Radford came just as close at the end of regulation in breaking the scoreless time. Garland Smith's effort was blocked as time expired and the teams headed into the extra sessions.

In the first overtime, it was High Point that nearly scored a golden goal. In the 92nd minute, RU goalie, Dane Wilson made a diving save on Mamadee Nyepon's chip and knocked it off the pipe. An on-rushing Panther, Chris Ramsell, had an open net on the rebound, but skimmed the top of the crossbar.

The Highlanders kept offensive pressure on the HPU defense late into the second overtime. Bernardo Ulmo and Luis Grande both missed high on what were the only two shots by either team inside the last five minutes of the contest.

"We again played solid at the back," Reeves said. "We needed to make better decisions and have quality at key moments in the final third."

Radford's defense, led by the return for the second straight game of James Jordan, again recorded impressive play against a high-powered offense. Nyepon is the league's top scoring threat and was held to two shots and just one on goal. Radford has given up just six goals in its last nine games and has not allowed multiple goals to any opponent in that stretch.

With the draw, Radford is now 4-5-4, 1-2-2 on the season. High Point is 4-7-3 and 2-2-2.

"The league is very tight, and I think from second to eighth place is going to be decided by just a matter of a few points," Reeves said. "We have to keep preparing and believing."

The Highlanders travel to Clinton, S.C. for a crucial matchup with Presbyterian this Sunday. Kickoff is set for 2:00 p.m.

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