BOILING SPRINGS, N.C. – Octavio Ocampo's fourth goal of the season wasn't enough for the Radford men's soccer team, as the Highlanders dropped a 2-1 decision to Gardner-Webb on Sunday evening in the Big South Quarterfinals at Greene-Harbison Stadium.
Radford ends its season at 5-11-2, while Gardner-Webb improves to 9-7-2 and will face High Point on Wednesday.
The Highlanders took the first shot of the contest, but it was the home side that openend the scoring, as Simen Olsen tapped in a rebound off an Oskar Wang shot five minutes before halftime to give Gardner-Webb a 1-0 lead.
The Runnin' Bulldogs doubled their lead five minute into the second half when Hendrik Kortgodde redirected a Wang shot past a sprawling
Joseba Incera for a 2-0 advantage.
Radford cut that 2-0 lead in half just 10 minutes later, as a scramble in the box led to a loose ball finding Ocampo, who fired a shot into the bottom right corner for his fourth tally of the year.
The Highlanders had a golden opportunity to tie the match in the closing stages, as
Dondre' Robinson sent in a cross that
Victor Valls hit perfectly into the corner, but a Gardner-Webb player managed to clear the ball off the line before it went in to keep it a one-goal game. The Runnin' Bulldogs managed to fend off the rest of Radford's attacking chances to close out their first semifinal appearance since 2011.
STAT OF THE MATCH
Radford had an 8-6 advantage in second-half shots despite being fouled 14 times in the second half.
TWEET OF THE MATCH
TEAM LEADERS
Mouhameth Thiam led all players with five shots. Thiam, Valls, Ocampo and
Baye Djibril Faye had one shot on goal apiece.
UP NEXT
The Highlanders turn their attention to the 2020 season with a majority of the roster returning.
FOLLOW MEN'S SOCCER ON SOCIAL MEDIA
For more information on the Radford men's soccer team visit RadfordAthletics.com, follow @RadfordMSOC on Twitter, 'radfordmsoc' Instagram or Radford Men's Soccer on Facebook.
