MAYER'S HAT TRICK AND ASSIST LEADS MEN'S SOCCER PAST APP STATE

BOX SCORE RADFORD, Va. - Radford senior Joe Mayer nearly doubled his career goal total as a Highlander in one night Tuesday with three tallies and an assist in Radford's 4-2 victory over Appalachian State at Cupp Stadium. As a transfer in 2012, Mayer scored four goals for the season.

"This was a really solid win for us," Radford head coach Marc Reeves said. "App State is a well-coached, disciplined team. We got great energy from our bench, including Joe's [Mayer] impact on the game."

After the Mountaineers scored the first goal of the game on a far-post header by Harrison Delbridge with an assist to Alex Herbst, who played in the ASU corner kick, RU responded just over a minute later to tie the game at a goal apiece.

Mayer's first goal of the night and first of the season came on a breakaway on a service from Dario Redondo in the 25th minute.

The Highlanders broke on top with goal in the 39th minute. Chel Ho Park Kim put away his own rebounded shot off a Danny Free save for ASU to give RU a 2-1 lead. Mayer earned an assist on the Park Kim tally, and the Highlanders carried that lead into the halftime lockerroom.

"We had some great chances in the first half and didn't capitalize all that well," Reeves said. "But we responded and scored some really good goals in the second half."

Radford would have to rally, however, after Appalachian State tied the game in the 56th minute. Stephen Chapman beat RU keeper Dane Wilson with a one-time strike off a cross from Stanley Broaden to even the match at two.

But it was to be Mayer's night. Back-to-back goals within a minute of each other in the 68th gave RU the edge it would need for the first victory of the season.

Mayer's strike from 20 yards straight in front of the net off a tap pass from Stephen Hudgens and a Redondo lead-in gave the Highlanders the lead for good. Forty-eight seconds later, Mayer tucked home a pass from Luis Grande, who took advantage of a deep Mountaineer turnover to put the game out of reach.

"I was pleased for not only Joe, but our entire group to come out on our home opener and get a big win for our program," Reeves said.

The Highlanders are at home Saturday as they play host to UMBC at 6:00 p.m. in Cupp Stadium.

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