HIGHLANDERS SET FOR SEMIFINAL CLASH WITH HIGH POINT, FRIDAY NIGHT

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SETTING THE STAGE

Second-seeded Radford meets sixth-seeded High Point in the second semifinal of the Big South Tournament Friday night at Bryan Park in Greensboro, N.C.
Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m., following the first semifinal matchup between Winthrop and Campbell.
Marc Reeves is now 3-2-2 against High Point as Radford's head coach, with each of the wins and losses decided by one goal.
The Highlanders are 3-0-2 over the last five meetings, including a 2-1 overtime victory on Oct. 17 at Cupp Stadium. RU overcame a 1-0 deficit, and Sivert Daehlie tallied the game-winner in the 92nd minute.
The teams have met four previous times in Big South tourney play, with Radford owning a 2-1-1 mark. The last matchup came in the 2010 semifinals, with the Panthers winning, 1-0.
Series: Radford leads 12-6-4
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HIGHLANDER HIGHLIGHTS

Record: 14-2-2
Radford ranks No. 20 in the latest RPI rankings and is receiving votes in the NSCAA coaches' poll.
Twenty-six of the Highlanders' league-leading 40 goals scored this season are by underclassmen.
In addition to being the Big South leader in goals scored, RU ranks first in assists per game (2.17) and shots per game (17.39).
Radford's 2.22 goals per game rank ninth in the nation.
Tuesday's 2-0 victory over Gardner-Webb gave the Highlanders their ninth shutout of the season, tied for most in the conference, and extended their streak of not allowing a goal to 528 minutes. High Point was the last opponent to score.
Now with 12 goals and 26 points, Sivert Daehlie remains third in the conference in both categories and tied for 11th nationally in goals scored.
Daehlie has put 26 of his team-high 49 shots on frame. Evan Szklennik is second with 41 attempts and 17 on goal.
Szklennik leads the Big South with seven assists, while Fraser Colmer is tied for second with six.
Aitor Pouseu Blanco is tied for first in the conference in shutouts and ranks second with his 0.67 goals against average.
With a win, Radford would tie the program's single-season record for wins (15).

SCOUTING HIGH POINT

Record: 7-6-6
High Point advanced to the semifinals by edging No. 3 seed Coastal Carolina in a penalty kick shootout, 4-2, after the teams played to a 1-1 draw.
The Panthers forced overtime by scoring in the 90th minute on a header by Chris Ramsell.
Sophomore Avery Ryan leads HPU with seven goals, 17 points and 58 shots.
Ramsell is second among Panthers with four goals and 11 points, while Renato Punyed shares the team lead with four assists and is second with 56 shots. Punyed assisted on the tying goal against Coastal.
High Point ranks second in the Big South in shots per game (16.95), but sixth in goals per match (1.47).
Redshirt senior Kody Palmer has played every minute in goal this season and ranks first in the conference in save percentage (.837) and third in goals against average (0.77).
The Panthers have not allowed more than one goal in a game since their loss to Radford.

UP NEXT

The winners of Friday's semifinals advance to Sunday's 2 p.m. championship match, with an NCAA Tournament berth on the line.
Radford is seeking its second straight title game appearance and eighth overall.

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