Women's Soccer 10/18/2016 3:23:00 PM

RADFORD PLAYS IMPORTANT ROAD FINALE AT LIBERTY WEDNESDAY

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RADFORD, Va. – The Radford women's soccer team will look to notch its fourth conference road victory and remain in first place when it travels to Liberty Wednesday afternoon for a key clash between the commonwealth foes. Kickoff is scheduled for 4 p.m. and the match will air on the Big South Network.

The Highlanders (7-6, 5-2) share the lead with Gardner-Webb in the conference standings, but they are crowded at the top, with five teams separated by three points and another just two more behind.

Aiming to secure a top-four seed and a home quarterfinal in the Big South Tournament, Radford faces the top two teams in the preseason poll in its final two matches, while several of the other contenders have three games remaining, including defending champion Liberty (8-7, 4-2).

Both teams are coming off of dominating victories on the road. The Highlanders totaled a season-high 29 shots at Presbyterian on Saturday, while notching their fifth shutout. Liberty, meanwhile, found the net three times in the first 16 minutes en route to a 5-0 blanking of Campbell.

Jasmine Casarez, Jessica Wollmann and Cassidy Ratliff each recorded an assist in the win over the Blue Hose, giving Radford 19 helpers on their 19 goals, with at least one on each of their last nine tallies that came during the run of play. The Highlanders are second in conference play in assists per game and third in both goals and points per game.

Individually, Casarez upped her points total to 16, ranking second in the league in per game average and fourth overall. Four others on the team now have at least five points, led by Wollmann's 10. Jordan Lundin has six, while Abby Gardner, who has scored goals in two straight games, and Nelia Perez have five. Defensively, Radford still has not allowed a goal before the 80th minute in a road conference match.

That will be put the test by a Liberty team that ranks first in goals, assists and points per game during league play, while winning four of its last five contests. Freshman forward Gabrielle Farrell leads the Flames with 17 points on six goals – including four game-winners – and five assists. Junior forward Isabella Habuda has six goals and two assists, while Preseason Player of the Year Jennifer Knoebel has four goals and three assists. Standout goalkeeper Holly Van Noord ranks second in the league with a 0.99 goals against average and .837 save percentage.

Liberty has won four straight meetings to cut Radford's all-time series lead to 15-11-4. In last year's matchup, Radford rallied from a two-goal deficit, but the Flames scored in the final minute of double overtime for a 3-2 victory.

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Players Mentioned

#15 Jasmine Casarez: MF; 5' 6"; Sophomore; Legends FC

#26 Abby Gardner: F; 5' 6"; Sophomore; VSA Heat

#16 Jordan Lundin: MF; 5' 2"; Junior; FC Capital United

#30 Cassidy Ratliff: F; 5' 5"; Junior; Roanoke Star

#12 Jessica Wollmann: F; 5' 5"; Sophomore; New River United

#8 Nelia Perez: F; 5' 2"; Freshman; Newport News FC, Chesapeake FC, Churchland SL

Players Mentioned

#15 Jasmine Casarez
: 5' 6"; Sophomore; Legends FC
: MF

#26 Abby Gardner
: 5' 6"; Sophomore; VSA Heat
: F

#16 Jordan Lundin
: 5' 2"; Junior; FC Capital United
: MF

#30 Cassidy Ratliff
: 5' 5"; Junior; Roanoke Star
: F

#12 Jessica Wollmann
: 5' 5"; Sophomore; New River United
: F

#8 Nelia Perez
: 5' 2"; Freshman; Newport News FC, Chesapeake FC, Churchland SL
: F