RADFORD SECURES TOP SEED AND FIRST LEAGUE TITLE SINCE 1998

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RADFORD, Va. - Radford (11-3-2, 8-0-0) secured at least a share of the Big South regular season championship and assured itself of the top seed in the conference tournament with a 1-0 win over 24th-ranked Coastal Carolina (11-5-0, 6-1-0) at Cupp Stadium on Saturday. Fraser Colmer scored his first career goal in the 12th minute, and the Highlanders made it stand up for the victory. The league title is the first for the program since 1998.

"More than any single opponent, today's result is a testament to the way this group has prepared for every opponent home or away all season," Radford head coach Marc Reeves said. "Coastal is an unbelievably well-coach and talented team, but we just kept battling and found a way. We've had good unity and belief all along."

Colmer's goal came unassisted on a corner kick effort from the right side. The left-footed freshman bent a beautiful ball past CCU keeper Mark Petrus and clean untouched into the lower left third of the goal. Radford notched its only two corner kicks on back-to-back plays. The first was served from the left side by Krzysztof Nalborski, and Jo Vetle Rimstad was able to make a play on that ball far post off a Coastal defender to set up Colmer's opportunity.

With the wind gusting up to 20 mph, the Highlanders used the advantage and were the more aggressive team early in the game to grab the lead. The Radford defense took over in the second half with the Chanticleers holding the wind edge. CCU put 12 shots together in the half, but only one was on goal and turned away by Aitor Pouseu Blanco, who recorded his league-leading seventh clean sheet of the season.

Ironically, Coastal's best opportunity to score came in the first half against the wind. In the 35th minute, Louis Dargent put a solid header on a Coastal corner kick that caught Pouseu Blanco away from the lower left third of the net. Bismark Amofah covered the line with his foot from his defensive back position to record the team save.

Radford closes out its regular season at home Wednesday night vs. Winthrop at 6:00 p.m. The Highlanders will pay tribute to seven student-athletes on Senior Day -- Chel Ho Park Kim, Dario Redondo, Stephen Hudgens, Michael Hutcheon, Ramzi Dridi, Nico Valencia, and Brandon Atwell.

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Players Mentioned

#6 Bismark Amofah: D; 5' 9"; Sophomore

#12 Ramzi Dridi: MF/F; 5' 11"; Senior

#15 Stephen Hudgens: MF; 5' 11"; Senior

#2 Michael Hutcheon: D; 6' 1"; Senior

#8 Chel Ho Park Kim: MF; 5' 11"; Redshirt Senior

#1 Aitor Pouseu Blanco: GK; 6' 2"; Redshirt Freshman

#10 Dario Redondo: MF/F; 5' 7"; Senior

#21 Nico Valencia: MF; 5' 5"; Redshirt Junior

#4 Jo Vetle Rimstad: D; 6' 1"; Sophomore

#35 Brandon Atwell: F; 6' 2"; Graduate Student

Players Mentioned

#6 Bismark Amofah
: 5' 9"; Sophomore
: D

#12 Ramzi Dridi
: 5' 11"; Senior
: MF/F

#15 Stephen Hudgens
: 5' 11"; Senior
: MF

#2 Michael Hutcheon
: 6' 1"; Senior
: D

#8 Chel Ho Park Kim
: 5' 11"; Redshirt Senior
: MF

#1 Aitor Pouseu Blanco
: 6' 2"; Redshirt Freshman
: GK

#10 Dario Redondo
: 5' 7"; Senior
: MF/F

#21 Nico Valencia
: 5' 5"; Redshirt Junior
: MF

#4 Jo Vetle Rimstad
: 6' 1"; Sophomore
: D

#35 Brandon Atwell
: 6' 2"; Graduate Student
: F