Women's Soccer 10/25/2013 10:27:00 AM

SENIOR DAY BATTLE FOR FIRST AGAINST WINTHROP AT CUPP ON SATURDAY

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In a crucial Big South matchup, first-place Radford women's soccer looks to bounce back from its first conference loss of the season when it hosts second-place Winthrop on Saturday, Oct. 26 in its final regular season home game. The Highlanders (12-2-1, 8-1-0 Big South) hold a slim one-game lead over the Eagles (11-3-1, 7-2-0) and Longwood (8-7-2, 7-2-0) as everybody enters the final two contests of the regular season.

THE SENIOR NINE
Julie Ruh'e, Lauren Hicks, Torrie Jackson, Rachel Conway, Sydney Golden, Tyler Drake, Sahar Aflaki, Lauren Markey and Che' Brown comprise the senior class that will go down as the most successful four-year class in program history...They are 52-18-7 (.721) and 29-5-5 (.808) in the Big South... Two Big South tournament and regular season titles... 29-5-2 at home; 17-2-3 (16-1-3 regular season) against Big South foes... 44 shutouts... Won league-record eight conference games twice... Numerous lengthy shutout streaks (longest was 894:23 at home against league teams).

LAST TIME OUT
Radford had its eight game winning streak snapped and suffered its first Big South loss with a 1-0 loss at Coastal Carolina on Wednesday... Sam Patterson's goal in the 15th minute and Megan Spencer's six saves helped the Chanticleers snap Radford's 25-game unbeaten streak against conference foes... Che' Brown made six saves in net for the Highlanders.

A LOOK AT RU
Radford owns a one-game lead over Longwood and Winthrop with two contests left in the regular season... A win and the Highlanders clinch at least a share for the BIg South regular season title...Following win at High Point, 12-1-1 start was best in program history... Started 8-0 in Big South play for first time in program history, matching its own league record for regular season wins... Had 25-match (20-0-5) and 12-game winning streaks against Big South opponents snapped with 1-0 loss at Coastal Carolina on Wednesday... That streak started in the 2011 Big South quarterfinals... That was just the second road loss (15-2-3) to a conference opponent since start of 2011 season... Since 2007, Radford is 24-3-5 in Big South regular season home games, including 20-1-3 the last four seasons… Undefeated last 17 home contests (15-0-2) which is a school record... Won nine straight home games, one shy of the school record... Had a nine-game and 894:23 shutout streaks snapped when Gardner-Webb converted a penalty shot in the 21st minute last Wednesday.

THE EAGLES
Winthrop has won its last two contests and are tied with Longwood for second in the league, one game behind Radford... Krystyna Freda leads the Big South with 17 goals and 38 points, nine of those scores have come in league play... She is ranked in the NCAA's top 10 in points per game (2nd), goals per game (4th), goals (6th) and points (7th)... Taylor Coleman has chipped in with six goals, while Freda and Grace Radler have a team-best four assists... Amelia Henderson has posted a 1.16 GAA with 80 saves and a .825 save percentage in 1318:!3 of action.

THE SERIES
This is the 12the meeting with Radford holding a slim 6-4-1 advantage in the series... It is a rematch of the 2012 championship game won by the Highlanders, 1-0 in Rock Hill... The teams played to a 1-1 draw in the regular season also played on Winthrop's home pitch... The Highlanders won the last contest at Cupp, 1-0 (OT), in 2011 and are 3-2 at home vs. the Eagles.

HIGHLANDERS AT CUPP
Undefeated last 17 home contests (15-0-2), school record... Won nine straight, one shy of school record... Since 2007, RU is 24-3-5 in Big South regular season home games, including 20-1-3 the last five seasons... Had a nine-game and xx shutout streaks snapped when Gardner-Webb converted a penalty shot in the 21st minute last Wednesday.

UP NEXT
Radford wraps up its regular season on Tuesday, Oct. 29 with a 2:00 p.m. tilt at VMI.

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