RADFORD TRAVELS TO GARDNER-WEBB FOR BIG SOUTH OPENER

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MATCH INFORMATION

SETTING THE STAGE

Radford is set to kick off Big South play against Gardner-Webb for the first time since October 5, 2013; when the Highlanders captured a 2-1 overtime victory.
The Highlanders are the only Big South team yet to play a conference game.
In Big South openers, Radford is 20-9-2 all-time.
The Highlanders have won their last six conference openers, with the exclusion of a draw in 2009, RU's last lost in an opener came in 2007.
Radford is 20-13-7 against Gardner-Webb.

HIGHLANDER HIGHLIGHTS

Record: 6-2-0
The Highlanders suffered their first loss inside Cupp Stadium since Nov. 5, 2014; dropping a 2-1 decision to former conference foe Coastal Carolina on Sept. 24.
It marked only the second time that the Highlanders had allowed more than one goal in a match this season.
Radford's defense has only allowed seven goals in 733:41 minutes of play.
RU ranks 42^nd nationally with a 0.86 goals against average.
In the loss to Coastal Carolina, Kieran Roberts tallied his first goal since Oct. 1, 2014.
Eight different Highlanders have scored goals this season.
In two matchups versus the Runnin' Bulldogs in 2015, Sivert Daehlie tallied three goals.
The sophomore currently has four goals on the season, including three game winners, ranking sixth nationally.

SCOUTING GARDNER-WEBB

Record: 3-5-0
After winning their season opener against Davidson, the Runnin' Bulldogs went on a four-game skid, ending the streak with a 4-1 decision over VMI on Sept. 17.
Gardner-Webb opened Big South play on Sept. 24 with a matchup against in-state foe Campbell. The Runnin' Bulldogs were victorious, 2-1.
Despite being outshot 125-77, opponents have only scored five more goals than the Runnin' Bulldogs.
Opponents have taken advantage of late opportunities against the Runnin' Bulldog defense, tallying 12 second-half goals on 78 shots.
Of Gardner-Webb's 15 goals on the season, Ali Al-Gashamy paces the squad with six goals.
Al-Gashamy leads the conference and ranks 18^th in the country in goals scored. The redshirt senior has two multi-goal matches to start the season.
Seven different players have found the back of the net this season, including four with two-plus goals.
In 2015, Gardner-Webb allowed 2.95 goals per match in Big South play.

UP NEXT

The Highlanders continue league play on Oct. 5, hosting Commonwealth foe Liberty in a 7 p.m. matchup.
Liberty holds a slight 24-23-12 edge in the all-time series.

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Players Mentioned