Women's Soccer 10/8/2013 1:16:00 PM

FIRST PLACE ON THE LINE WHEN RADFORD HOSTS LIBERTY ON WEDNESDAY

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For the second straight match, Radford will be playing for first place when it hosts in-state rival Liberty on Wednesday, Oct. 9 at Cupp Stadium. In a battle between the two stingiest Big South defenses, the first-place Highlanders (8-1-1, 4-0-0 Big South) and second-place Lady Flames (8-3-1, 3-0-1) kickoff at 4:00 p.m. in Radford's first game of a season-long three-game homestand.

LAST TIME OUT: Senior Julie Ruh'e scored in the 80^th minute and senior Che' Brown made six saves as the Highlanders edged Longwood in a battle of Big South unbeatens on Saturday night… Senior Sydney Golden assisted on her third game-winner in four league games.

A LOOK AT RU: Golden was named Big South Defensive Player of the Week for her effort in a pair of road shutouts… Ruh'e recorded her 10^th career game-winner, tying her with Susan Melanson for the school record (1998-pr.)… Radford's 8-1-1 start is the third best after 10 games in program history… RU started 10-0 in 1993 and 7-0-3 in 2008… Brown's clean sheet brought her season total to four and career to 31… The win extended the Highlanders' regular season league unbeaten streak to 15 (11-0-4)… RU's defense is ranked sixth in save percentage (.894) and 13^th in GAA (0.48)… Brown is 13^th in save pct. (.881) and 21^st in GAA (0.55)… After the win, RU is now 10-1-2 in Big South regular season road games since 2011… Add the five neutral/away tournament games, RU is 14-1-3 with a shootout victory… 13 different Highlanders have scored a goal this season… Golden has a team-best three assist, all coming on game-winners in league play… RU is on a streak of allowing two or fewer goals in a game over the last 29 matches and 42 of the last 44… With five one-goal victories this season, Radford is 18-5 in one-goal contests since 2011… Dating back to the 2011 Big South championship game, the Highlanders have allowed just six goals (19 matches) to league foes, 15 of which have resulted in clean sheets…. Since 2007, Radford is 21-3-5 in Big South regular season home games, including 17-1-3 the last five seasons... Has not allowed a goal to a BIg South opponent in last seven home games (692:35).

THE LADY FLAMES: Liberty is the only other undefeated Big South squad and sits in second place with 10 points after pulling out a 2-1 double overtime win at Presbyterian on Saturday night… The Lady Flames own the stingiest defense in the league, ranking in the NCAA's top 10 in save pct. (.907/2^nd), GAA (0.39/4^th) and shutout percentage (.667/9^th)… Keeper Holly Van Noord owns the NCAA's fourth-best save percentage (.907) and the seventh-best GAA (0.39)… Logging all 1140:40, Van Noord has surrendered just five goals, made 49 saves and posted a league-best eight shutouts… Offensively, Alanna Dunkle, Brittany Aanderud and Crystal Elmers each have four goals with Dunkle posting a team-best 11 points… Julia Delgatti has charted a team-high four assists.

THE SERIES: Radford owns a 14-7-4 advantage in the series as the two teams meet for the 26^th time… The Highlanders are 7-2-1 at home, 2-2-1 at Cupp Stadium… The teams played to a scoreless deadlock in Lynchburg last season, snapping a three-game winning streak by the Highlanders against the Lady Flames… RU has won the last two at Cupp, 5-0 in 2010 and 3-1 in 2008…. Liberty's last win in the series was a 2-0 victory in Lynchburg in 2009.

NEXT TIME: Radford continues its three-game homestand on Saturday, Oct. 12 against UNC Asheville at 7:00 p.m.

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