HIGHLANDERS FALL TO LIBERTY IN BIG SOUTH CHAMPIONSHIP GAME

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CONWAY, S.C. -- Radford had its run of back-to-back league titles snapped by Liberty, falling to the Lady Flames (16-5-1), 5-0, in the Big South Championship presented by Musco Lighting on Sunday afternoon from CCU Soccer Field.

Despite the defeat, the Highlanders (15-3-2) finished a remarkable four-year stretch with a 56-19-7 mark, three Big South regular season championships and two tournament titles. The senior class consisting of Sahar Aflaki, Che' Brown, Rachel Conway, Tyler Drake, Sydney Golden, Lauren Hicks, Torrie Jackson, Lauren Markey and Julie Ruh'e set a new standard for Radford University and its women's soccer program.

"This does not define our season or our seniors," said head coach Ben Sohrabi. "This group broke a lot of records and they have had a great career. We love them and wish them well."

Golden, Ruh'e and junior Stephanie Herb were named to the all-tournament team for the Highlanders.

Liberty came out on fire and grabbed a 2-0 lead in the first 19 minutes and carried that advantage into the break.

"All the credit goes to Liberty and its coaching staff," said Sohrabi. "They played a great game and were well prepared to play for a championship."

Brittany Aanderud gave the Lady Flames a 1-0 lead in the 15^th minute. She dribbled across the top of the 18 and ripped a low shot into the bottom-left corner. Geena Swentik put Liberty up 2-0 off an easy one-time finish following a cross by Alanna Dunkle just 4:19 after the first strike.

Holly van Noord stopped all four shots on goal for the Lady Flames, while Brown made three saves in the first half. The senior from Manassas Park, Va. finished with eight saves.

Swentik added her second goal of the game in the 55^th minute pushing Liberty's lead to 3-0. The goal snapped a 37-match stretch of allowing two or fewer goals in a match. Rebecca Smith and Julia Delgadi added goals later on to close out the scoring for the Lady Flames. It is the most goals allowed by RU since Virginia tallied five in game two of the 2012 season.

The Highlanders did register 14 shots, but the six that were on goal were saved by van Noord. Ruh'e and Golden charted five and four shots respectively for the Highlanders.

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