Women's Soccer 8/18/2017 10:15:00 PM

RADFORD EARNS 3-0 WIN OVER HOWARD IN OPENER

BOX SCORE GAME INFORMATION

Score: Radford 3, Howard 0
Records: Radford (1-0-0), Howard (0-1-0)
Location: Cupp Stadium | Radford, Va.

RADFORD, Va. – A flurry of shots in the opponent's final third and a clean sheet gave the Radford women's soccer team a 3-0 victory over Howard in the 2017 season-opening contest at Cupp Stadium on Friday night.

Pushing the ball up the field via the wings, the Highlanders started fast and kept up the pace for 90 minutes while creating strong chances throughout the night. Junior midfielder Jasmine Casarez got the action started with back-to-back shots that couldn't find the back of the net, but the breakthrough came shortly after in the eighth minute. Sophomore forward Nelia Perez used her speed to beat her defender down the right wing and sent a cross into the box where junior midfielder Jane Everett headed it home for an early 1-0 lead.

Minutes later, sophomore midfielder Nicole Ray hit back-to-back shots of her own with both ringing off the posts – first the left and then the right. Radford kept up the pressure and finished the first half with a 17-to-3 lead in shots, but settled for a 1-0 lead heading into the locker room.

The second half saw more of an efficiency from the Highlanders on the attacking end, netting two goals on seven shots compared to one goal on 17 shots in the first stanza.

Following tightly contested and physical play for the first 28 minutes of the second half, Radford doubled its lead with another headed goal, this time coming from a corner kick. Sophomore defender Allyson Giannone whipped the corner into Howard's six-yard box and freshman midfielder Gabi Paupst rose over multiple defenders to lift the ball past goalkeeper and into the back of the net.

Then in the 76th minute, junior forward Jessica Wollmann hung tough and battled her way through the defense before laying the ball off to Perez at the top of the box. The Newport News, Va. native made no mistake firing a right-footed effort for the Highlanders' third and final goal of the evening.

A back four of Giannone, Emily Dunn, Jada Ellis and Natacha Rangel-Ribiero helped freshman goalkeeper Lexi Dean, who collected eight saves, earn a clean sheet in her collegiate debut.

Forward Kela Gray was the main threat for the Bison as she tallied six shots – three on goal – while the rest of her team had seven shots combined.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

Everett's goal marked her first since her collegiate debut on August 21, 2015 also against Howard.
Perez finished with a goal and an assists on five shots over 76 minutes played.
Casarez led the team with 11 shots overall and four shots on goal.
The one statistical advantage Howard held on the night was in corner kicks. The Bison took four while the Highlanders took two.
Head Coach Ben Sohrabi was able to utilize his depth tonight, bringing nine different players into the game as substitutions.
Seven freshmen made their collegiate debuts tonight: Dean, Lindo, Brackett, McLane, Paupst, Struder and Ellis.

QUOTABLE
"I thought tonight was a great way to start the season. Howard is a very good team. Last year they went 13-5-2, went undefeated in their conference and have a lot of seniors on their team so I was really proud of how the girls came out in the first game of the year tonight. I thought we had a lot of maturity and had good organization both attacking and defending so overall I'm very happy with the effort." – Radford Head Coach Ben Sohrabi

UP NEXT
The Highlanders hit the road for the first time in 2017 when they take on USC Upstate this Sunday, Aug. 20^th at 7 p.m. in Spartanburg, S.C.
The Spartans fell, 6-1, in their season opener Friday night against the Furman Paladins.

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Players Mentioned

#15 Jasmine Casarez: MF; 5' 7"; Junior; Legends FC

#7 Emily Dunn: D; 5' 4"; Sophomore; Maryland United

#13 Jane Everett: MF; 5' 6"; Junior; New River United

#4 Allyson Giannone: D; 5' 2"; Sophomore; Beach FC

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

#22 Natacha Rangel-Ribiero: MF; 5' 1"; Sophomore; FC Richmond

#10 Nicole Ray: MF; 5' 3"; Sophomore; FFC Elite

#12 Jessica Wollmann: F; 5' 6"; Junior; New River United

#25 Lexi Dean: GK; 5' 7"; Freshman; McLane SC

#18 Jada Ellis: D; 5' 6"; Freshman; Toronto Blizzard

#9 Gabi Paupst: MF; 5' 11"; Freshman; Toronto Blizzard

Players Mentioned

#15 Jasmine Casarez
: 5' 7"; Junior; Legends FC
: MF

#7 Emily Dunn
: 5' 4"; Sophomore; Maryland United
: D

#13 Jane Everett
: 5' 6"; Junior; New River United
: MF

#4 Allyson Giannone
: 5' 2"; Sophomore; Beach FC
: D

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

#22 Natacha Rangel-Ribiero
: 5' 1"; Sophomore; FC Richmond
: MF

#10 Nicole Ray
: 5' 3"; Sophomore; FFC Elite
: MF

#12 Jessica Wollmann
: 5' 6"; Junior; New River United
: F

#25 Lexi Dean
: 5' 7"; Freshman; McLane SC
: GK

#18 Jada Ellis
: 5' 6"; Freshman; Toronto Blizzard
: D

#9 Gabi Paupst
: 5' 11"; Freshman; Toronto Blizzard
: MF