Men's Soccer 10/26/2018 9:00:00 AM

MEN'S SOCCER HEADS TO NO. 12 HIGH POINT FOR TOP-OF-TABLE CLASH

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RADFORD, Va. – The Radford men's soccer team plays its biggest Big South game of the season when it travels to North Carolina for a 7 p.m. contest with No. 12 High Point on Saturday.

SETTING THE STAGE
Opponent: No. 12 High Point Panthers (11-2-1, 5-0-1 Big South)
Date/Time: Saturday, Oct. 27 at 7 p.m.
Location: Vert Stadium (High Point, N.C.)
Live Stats
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SERIES HISTORY
In a series dating back to 1998, Radford owns a 20-11-7 record against High Point across 38 all-time meetings.

The Highlanders took a 3-2 overtime victory over the Panthers in their first ever meeting on Oct. 28, 1998. Their most recent matchup was on Oct. 7, 2017 when HPU earned a 2-1 win at Cupp Stadium.

LAST TIME OUT
Radford earned a 3-1 victory over Winthrop on Senior Day last Saturday to improve its conference record to 4-2 on the year.

Redshirt senior forward Kieran Roberts opened the scoring with a 9^th minute penalty kick before freshman forward Amadou Macky Diop doubled the lead with a goal in the 12^th minute. Senior forward Khori Bennett netted his second goal of the season in the 59^th minute and the Highlanders held on after a Winthrop goal in the 71^st minute.

HIGHLANDER HIGHLIGHTS
Radford has been rising up the Big South statistical rankings after a slow start to the season. As a team, the Highlanders now rank second in corner kicks taken per game (5.92) and third in points per game (4.23), goals per game (1.46), assists per game (1.31) and goals against average (1.55).

Forwards Kieran Roberts and Amadou Macky Diop have been a force on offense this season and the duo ranks in the top-10 for several Big South statistical categories: shots, shots per game, points, points per game, goals, goals per game and game-winning goals. Freshman goalkeeper Sam Farrell has been a revelation since taking over the starting gig and now ranks second in goals against average (1.17) and save percentage (.783).

SENIORS' LEGACY
Nine seniors were honored before Radford's match last Saturday as part of Senior Day: Michael Walsh, Kieran Roberts, Myles Yorke, Jakob Strandsäter, Khori Bennett, Gonzalo Rodriguez, Benjamin Thiss, Taylor Martin and Nick Mayhugh.

This senior class has been a part of 44 wins, including 24 inside Cupp Stadium, as well as two Big South Regular Season Championships in 2015 and 2016. The group played a major role in capturing the 2016 Big South Tournament championship, the program's first in 16 years. They also helped guide the program to back-to-back NCAA Tournament bids for the first time since 1999 and 2000.

SCOUTING THE PANTHERS
High Point has put together a fantastic 2018 season thus far, posting an 11-2-1 record overall including a 5-0-1 record in Big South play. They currently sit atop the conference standings and remain undefeated after a 1-1 draw with Campbell on Wednesday night.

National polls have taken notice of the Panthers' success this season. Soccer America put HPU at #12 this week, the highest ranking in program history. TopDrawerSoccer had the Panthers at #16, College Soccer News put them at #17 and they received votes in the United Soccer Coaches poll.

Junior forward Ilias Kosmidis leads the team and the Big South with 22 points on 10 goals and two assists. Fellow junior forward Siggi Benonysson leads the conference with seven assists on the year and redshirt junior goalkeeper Keegan Meyer ranks first in the Big South for goals against average (1.03) and shutouts (5.0).

FOLLOW MEN'S SOCCER
For more information on the Radford men's soccer team visit RadfordAthletics.com, follow @RadfordMSoccer on Twitter, 'radfordmsoccer' Instagram or Radford Men's Soccer on Facebook.

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Players Mentioned

#18 Taylor Martin: MF; 5' 9"; Redshirt Senior

#6 Nick Mayhugh: F; 6' 0"; Senior

#7 Kieran Roberts: F; 6' 0"; Redshirt Senior

#27 Benjamin Thiss: D; 6' 1"; Redshirt Junior

#21 Michael Walsh: MF; 5' 8"; Redshirt Senior

#26 Myles Yorke: D; 6' 1"; Redshirt Senior

#10 Khori Bennett: M; 6' 0"; Senior

#4 Gonzalo Rodriguez: MF; 6' 0"; Senior

#0 Sam Farrell: GK; 6' 0"; Freshman

#12 Amadou Macky Diop: F; 6' 3"; Freshman

Players Mentioned

#18 Taylor Martin
: 5' 9"; Redshirt Senior
: MF

#6 Nick Mayhugh
: 6' 0"; Senior
: F

#7 Kieran Roberts
: 6' 0"; Redshirt Senior
: F

#27 Benjamin Thiss
: 6' 1"; Redshirt Junior
: D

#21 Michael Walsh
: 5' 8"; Redshirt Senior
: MF

#26 Myles Yorke
: 6' 1"; Redshirt Senior
: D

#10 Khori Bennett
: 6' 0"; Senior
: M

#4 Gonzalo Rodriguez
: 6' 0"; Senior
: MF

#0 Sam Farrell
: 6' 0"; Freshman
: GK

#12 Amadou Macky Diop
: 6' 3"; Freshman
: F