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Home Of The RadFord Highlanders RadFord Highlanders
Mertzokat-20171010
Jeff Sochko
0
Radford RAD (6-4-2)
1
Winner Charlotte CHA (4-3-3)
Radford RAD
(6-4-2)
0
Final
1
Charlotte CHA
(4-3-3)
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 OT 1 OT 2 F
Radford RAD 0 0 0 0 0
Charlotte CHA 0 0 0 1 1

Game Recap: Men's Soccer |

MERTZOKAT RECORDS EIGHT SAVES IN 2OT LOSS AT CHARLOTTE



MATCH INFORMATION
  • Score: Charlotte 1, Radford 0 (2OT)
  • Records: 49ers (4-3-3) | Highlanders (6-4-2)
  • Location: Transamerica Field | Charlotte, N.C.

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – The 2015 NCAA Tournament rematch proved to be everything as advertised as the two locked into a defensive battle that saw a career-high eight saves by Radford's Nicolas Mertzokat, but Charlotte's 23rd shot of the match found net in the 109th minute for the 1-0 double overtime victory.
 
Having saved four attempts on four different occasions throughout his career, Mertzokat's career night came as 10 of the 49ers' 23 attempts came on frame as the senior wowed fans with an array of world class saves.
 
Being held to one shot in the first overtime period, Charlotte registered eight shots in the second overtime as the 49ers came out with an aggressive approach. The Highlanders did not record a shot in the second overtime, only managing one in the first 10-minute period.
 
The 49ers game winning goal came off a through ball by Joe Brito to Daniel Bruce in the middle of the 18-yard box. Bruce curled the ball around Mertzokat to the top right shelf for his second game winning goal on the season.
 
In the 94th minute, Myles Yorke received a red card on a sliding tackle to prevent a shot opportunity on a one on one situation with Fernando Garcia. The Highlanders played the next 16 minutes one man down.
 
The Highlanders were held to three shots in the first half with all three coming off the foot of Sivert Daehlie. Radford's best opportunity of the half came on the first shot of the game in the 12th minute as Neil Martorana sent a cross from the far side into the box for Daehlie, whose strong header ended up in the hands of Elliot Panicco.
 
Radford received two opportunities toward the end of the second half as Kieran Roberts' header attempt off a cross in the 70th minute was stopped by Panicco to the low right corner. In the 72nd minute, Evan Szklennik took possession off a Charlotte turnover, feeding a racing Daehlie inside the 18-yard box. Daehlie's attempt banged off Panicco, who came up to the six-yard line to make a play on the ball.
 
Radford's defense was tested often in the first half as four of Charlotte's six goals came on frame. In the 35th minute, Daniel Bruce fired an attempt as Nicolas Mertzokat came off his line to the left side of the six-yard box, deflected the attempt back to Bruce.
 
Bruce corralled the deflection, firing another shot on goal as Fraser Colmer made a racing attempt toward the ball as it rolled toward the white line. Colmer made a sliding attempt to clear the ball, erasing the almost goal.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
  • The double overtime match between the two foes was the first since a 1-1 draw on Sept. 4, 2004 inside Cupp Stadium.
  • Radford was looking for its first win over the 49ers since a 1-0 victory on Aug. 31, 2002.
  • Radford was outshot 23-10, including 10-4 in shots on goal.
  • The 23 shots are the most by a Radford opponent this season. The previous season high was 14 by Campbell.
  • Sivert Daehlie finished with five shots, three coming on frame. Kieran Roberts took the other five Radford shots.
  • Roberts has now been held scoreless in three straight matches. Daehlie's eight-match scoring streak came to an end in the loss.
  • Coming off the bench to score the game winning goal, Daniel Bruce finished with nine shots and five on goal.
  • The Highlanders earned nine corner kicks, compared to the 49ers' four.
  • In the aggressive match, there were 29 fouls called with seven yellow cards and one red card handed out.
  • Finishing with eight saves, Nicolas Mertzokat now has 38 on the season.
  • The shutout marks only the fourth-time Radford has been held without a goal in the last 32 matches.
 
QUOTABLE
  • "I'm proud of our effort tonight. It's always tough playing a man down against a tough team like Charlotte. We had chances to win it in a back-and-forth match." ~ Radford head coach Bryheem Hancock
 
UP NEXT                     
  • After playing its first non-conference match in almost a month, Radford steps back into Big South play, hosting Gardner-Webb on Saturday for a 4 p.m. contest.
  • The match will serve as the Highlanders' last regular season home weekend match and Senior Day.
  • The Highlanders own a 21-13-7 edge in the all-time series, going 8-1-1 in the last 10 matchups, outscoring the Runnin' Bulldogs 23-5 in the 10 contests.
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