RADFORD TAKES HARD FOUGHT 1-0 WIN AT LONGWOOD ON RUH'E'S LATE GAME WINNER

BOX SCORE Follow @RadfordWSOC | Tweet #RadfordWSOC

FARMVILLE, Va. – Senior Julie Ruh'e scored in the 80^th minute to give Radford a hard-fought 1-0 win at Longwood in an early season first-place battle in Big South women's soccer action on Saturday evening from the Athletics Complex.

In an exciting contest, Ruh'e's strike came after a long service into the box by classmate Sydney Golden bounced and was misplayed by the keeper. Ruh'e calmly deposited the ball into the net for her 10^th career game-winner, matching Susan Melanson's mark*. It was also her second game-winner on Longwood's pitch, scoring the lone goal in a 1-0 win in 2011. For Golden, it was her third assist, all coming on game-winners in league play.

It improved the Highlanders' (8-1-1, 4-0-0 Big South) unbeaten regular season Big South streak to 15 matches (11-0-4) and put them all alone atop the league standings. The Lancers (4-6-2, 3-1-0) suffered their first defeat and surrendered their first goal in conference play.

"It was great and entertaining soccer game," said head coach Ben Sohrabi. "Both teams had good spells of possession and a handful of half chances. I am proud of how we have handled three straight road games."

Senior Che' Brown recorded six saves, five in the second half, four of which came prior to the game-winner. It was Brown's fourth clean sheet of the season and the Highlanders' sixth overall.

The squads went into the half scoreless with the Highlanders holding a 6-3 advantage in shots and 3-1 in shots on goal. Radford had the first two quality scoring chance as freshman Melanie Priestley whizzed a shot from just inside the 18 just over the crossbar (10') and then senior Sahar Aflaki was found alone on a perfect through ball, but her point blank volley (14') from eight yards was stopped by a on-rushing Shelby Hall, who finished with five saves.

The Lancers best chance came when Kelsey McDonald headed a far post service just wide of the right post in the 20th minute. Earlier, Brown made her lone stop, making a diving near-post save on Chelsea Walter's free kick from just outside the 18 three minutes after Aflaki's chance.

Longwood came out in another gear in the second half and peppered the Radford goal with five shots, two more than it had the entire first half. However, Brown came up with two great saves, including a one-handed tip that was aided wide by junior Stephanie Herb wide on a corner kick header by Samantha Phillips just five minutes into the second stanza.

Each team registered 10 shots and Longwood held an 8-4 advantage in corner kicks.

Radford returns home on Wednesday, Oct. 9 to begin a three-game homestand against Liberty. Kickoff between the in-state rivals begins at 4:00 pm.

Print Friendly Version