RADFORD HALTED BY PRESBYTERIAN IN PENALTY KICKS

Wednesday, November 8

Radford

7:00 PM

Radford University

10-4-4

Presbyterian

6-8-4

Team	1	2	OT 4	OT 5	OT 6	Final F
Presbyterian College	0	0	0	0	0	0
Radford	0	0	0	0	0	0

Photo by: Savannah Wood

RADFORD HALTED BY PRESBYTERIAN IN PENALTY KICKS

11/8/2017 11:00:00 PM | Men's Soccer

Box Score

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RADFORD, Va. – Looking for its second straight Big South Tournament championship appearance and third in the last four years, Radford's season came to a close in heartbreaking fashion as sixth-seeded Presbyterian advanced to the championship via penalty kicks 5-3 on a rainy night in the New River Valley.

The two foes have played four overtime matches in the last two years with the previous two going to double overtime, including the 2016 tournament semifinal matchup. A season ago, Radford and Presbyterian locked into a 1-1 double overtime battle, but the Highlanders advanced to the championship game on penalty kicks by the score of 4-2.

After playing 110 minutes without a goal, the 2017 edition saw both teams make their first three attempts as Fraser Colmer, Jakob Strandsäter and Victor Valls went for the Highlanders. Presbyterian sent Clement Vannier, Mathias Mikalsen and Jakob Luedtke.

Standing at 3-3, Adrian Martin beat Nicolas Mertzokat high, just under the crossbar to make the PKs 4-3. Tallying eight saves through 110 minutes, Connor Behrend saved his biggest save for last as he stopped a Wyatt Erzen attempt to the low left corner, smothering the ball off the backspin from the save.

Needing to find net to advance to its first tournament championship, Ricardo Hernandez beat Mertzokat low right as the ball skimmed past to the left corner of the net as the Blue Hose erupted into celebration.

In the match, Radford outshot Presbyterian 24-11. Of the 24 shots, eight came on frame. The Highlanders earned 13 corner kicks, including seven in the second half and four in the second overtime period.

A dominated first half by the Highlanders that saw 10 shots with two coming on frame. Despite the 10 shot attempts, Radford's best attempt of the half came in the 24^th minute as Myles Yorke played sent a beautiful ball into the right side of the box. Kieran Roberts back heeled a ball to a striding Sivert Daehlie in the middle of the box. Daehlie fired a shot to near post as a Connor Behrend put a glove on the attempt, hitting off the right post.

Radford had two opportunities to end the match in the 105^th minute on back-to-back attempts on frame by Roberts and Daehlie. The first attempt came off the boot of Roberts from the top of the 18-yard box that Behrend saved to the right. Daehlie came from the right side of the six-yard box, firing on frame off the deflection, but a kick save by Behrend stopped the threat.

Presbyterian advances to face top-seeded High Point on Sunday in the tournament championship

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

Radford's 24 shot attempts are the second most on the season behind a 28-attempt effort at Winthrop (Oct. 21).
The 13 corner kicks are a season high.
Kieran Roberts finished with eight shot attempts, including a match-high four on frame.
Sivert Daehlie and Victor Valls took five shots each with Daehlie taking three on frame.
Of the 24 shots, eight different Highlanders had a shot attempt.
Nicolas Mertzokat collected four saves and the sixth shutout of his career.
Mertzokat finishes tied for eighth all-time in program history.