RADFORD DOWNS USC UPSTATE FOR 10TH WIN OF SEASON

Wednesday, October 9

Spartanburg, S.C.

7 p.m.

Radford University

10-3-0, 4-1-0

USC Upstate

2-7-3, 0-5-1

Team	1	2	Final F
Radford	0	5	5
USC Upstate 2019	1	1	2

Box Score (PDF)

Photo by: Jacob Dos

RADFORD DOWNS USC UPSTATE FOR 10TH WIN OF SEASON

10/9/2019 10:20:00 PM | Women's Soccer

Box Score Box Score (PDF)

SPARTANBURG, S.C. - The Radford women's soccer team tallied a season-high five goals in a 5-2 win over USC Upstate on Wednesday night, which propelled the team to its 10^th win of the season.

Falling in a 1-0 hole at the end of 45 minutes for the second time in conference play, the Highlanders looked to make another comeback. Gabi Paupst put the team on her back as she and Lily McLane teamed up for a goal off a corner kick to tie the match in the 54^th minute.

The Spartans took the lead in the 65^th minute as Montanna Hill notched her third goal of the season. It was the first second half goal the Highlanders have allowed in Big South play. Time was winding down on the scoreboard but with 15 minutes to play, McLane found Paupst once more to tie the match. It was Paupst's third multi-goal match of the season and her fifth in conference play.

Only four minutes went by until Nelia Perez gave Radford the lead with her fifth goal of the season. She picked up her second goal of the match on a pure hustle play just two minutes later in the 82^nd minute.

Kayla Thomas played a long ball to her and Perez taped it to Alexeis Kirnos, who turned and bolted down the field. Kirnos streaked down the left side of the field and played a slow roller to the middle of the field one she got in the eight-yard box. Perez was hustling down the middle of the field, where the goalie was out of position and finished for the score.

Radford had a little more cushion with a 4-2 lead but kept its foot on the gas pedal with 29 shots, including 18 in the second half. Reese Degnan fired a shot from about 25 yards out in the 89^th minute. The Spartan keeper was leaning right and Degnan's rocket shot went to the left of her and into the back of the net.

With the lead well intact Radford played keep away for the final 11 minutes. Paupst and Perez combined for 15 of the teams 29 shots. Kirnos and freshman Emily Ridge added eight, taking four each. The Highlanders landed 15 of the 29 shots on frame, setting a season-high.

STAT OF THE MATCH
Radford has scored five or more goals in 13 straight seasons. The last year Radford did not notch five plus goals was in 2006. It's the first time Radford has had two players notch multi-goal matches since September 1, 2017 in a 6-0 win against Wofford.

TWEET OF THE MATCH

89' • Radford 5, USC Upstate 2

Are you serious?!? ??

What a score by Reese Degnan! She extends Radford's lead late in the 2nd half.#RiseAndDefend x #BigSouthWSOC pic.twitter.com/44WQ1rwbX9
— Radford Women's Soccer (@RadfordWSOC) October 10, 2019

QUOTABLE
"That was a crazy game," Ben Sohrabi said. "USC Upstate gave us all we could handle into the second half but it was great to see us keep pushing and scoring some goals. It's nice to score five goals in a half but we need intensity for 90 minutes."

UP NEXT
Radford will have a tough task at hand on Saturday traveling to High Point for a 7 p.m., kickoff. High Point sits atop the Big South standings with a 5-0-1 record.

FOLLOW WOMEN'S SOCCER ON SOCIAL MEDIA
For more information on the Radford women's soccer team follow @RadfordWSOC on Twitter and Instagram or Radford Women's Soccer on Facebook.