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Radford University Athletics

Home Of The RadFord Highlanders RadFord Highlanders
kaplan
2
Winner Radford RAD (13-5-0, 7-3-0)
0
Charleston Southern CSU (7-9-2, 3-5-2)
Winner
Radford RAD
(13-5-0, 7-3-0)
2
Final
0
Charleston Southern CSU
(7-9-2, 3-5-2)
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
Radford RAD 0 2 2
Charleston Southern CSU 0 0 0

Game Recap: Women's Soccer |

DOMINANT DEFENSE LEADS TO SHUTOUT OVER CHARLESTON SOUTHERN

CHARLESTON, S.C. – The Radford women's soccer team took 19 shots but only needed one thanks to dominant defense in the 2-0 shutout over Charleston Southern on Saturday morning.
 
The first half showed the powerful back line in full force as the Buccaneers only manage to take two shots, while Radford fired 13. Although the Highlanders maintained most of the possession in the first half none of the 13 shots could find the back of the net. Five of Radford's shots were on goal.
 
Radford was only able to take six shots for the remainder of the match and landed four on target. The first shot of the second half for Radford was the difference maker in the contest. A foul was called in the box on a Radford scoring attempt and Nelia Perez lined up to take the penalty kick. She converted the kick for her 10th goal of the season and gave Radford a lead in the 49th minute.
 
The Highlanders kept the offensive pursuit but was able to score again in the 68th minute. Perez was double teamed driving into the box and found a wide-open Izzy Armstrong on the left side of the field. The sophomore headed it out of mid-air with the goalie nowhere in sight. Armstrong's shot found the back of the net for her career goal. The score also gave Radford some insurance for the final 22 minutes.
 
With five shots already taken by the Buccaneers in the second half, the Highlanders did not change their approach. They kept pushing and tried to score another goal. The defense hung back and dug their heels into the turf to try and preserve the shutout.
 
The combination of Courtenay Kaplan and Lexi Dean in goal worked once more as they teamed up for another clean sheet. Mia Wood, Kayla Thomas and Emily Dunn swarmed around and only held Charleston Southern to two shots for the final 22 minutes and neither were on goal.
 
TEAM LEADERS
Perez, Wood and Brianna Oliver fired nine of the 19 shots – three each – while Alexeis Kirnos picked up two. Eight different Highlanders tallied the final eight shots and four landed on goal. Kaplan spent 71:11 minutes in goal, while Dean added 18:49. Dean came up with the Highlanders lone save in the shutout.
 
DID YOU KNOW?
The win clinched the No. 3 spot in the Big South Tournament for Radford. It's the second straight season Radford finished inside the top-3 in the Big South.
 
TWEET OF THE MATCH  
QUOTABLE
"Today was a good win versus a very stinging Charleston Southern team," Ben Sohrabi. "It's always a grind down here but it was great to see Nelia step up with a goal and an assist. I thought we defended well and we're really happy with the shutout. We've had a target on our back all year and the players have responded well especially lately. We look forward to the tournament now."
 
UP NEXT
The Highlanders will host a quarterfinal match as the No. 3 seed against the undetermined No. 6 seed in Cupp Stadium on Saturday at 7 p.m.
 
 
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