Skip To Main Content
Skip To Main Content

Radford University Athletics

Home Of The RadFord Highlanders RadFord Highlanders
champs
1
Gardner-Webb GWU (11-10-1, 7-3-0)
2
Winner Radford RAD (15-5-0, 7-3-0)
Gardner-Webb GWU
(11-10-1, 7-3-0)
1
Final
2
Radford RAD
(15-5-0, 7-3-0)
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
Gardner-Webb GWU 1 0 1
Radford RAD 0 2 2

Game Recap: Women's Soccer |

PEREZ’S LATE GOAL GIVES RADFORD ITS SEVENTH BIG SOUTH TOURNAMENT TITLE

MATTHEWS, N.C. – The Radford women's soccer team defeated No. 4 Gardner-Webb, 2-1, to claim the 2019 Big South Women's Soccer Tournament Title on Sunday afternoon at the Matthews Sportsplex in Matthews, N.C.
 
The Highlanders went into the Sportsplex locker room with a 1-0 deficit through the first 45 minutes. Radford has been in that situation before and was even in a bigger hole just one game ago in the Big South Semifinals. However, the Highlanders never-quit attitude payed off in the tournament finale.
 
With five shots through the first 13 minutes in the second half, there was a sense in the air that the Highlanders would notch a goal and tie the match. That sense became a reality just one minute later as Lily McLane tied it up.
 
After a foul was called on Gardner-Webb, McLane set up the ball up for a free kick from about 35 yards out. She kicked a lofty shot that appeared to be a pass into the box but was placed perfectly in the left upper 90 just over the leaping goalkeeper. The junior jumped for excitement as she put the Highlanders on the board in the 60th minute.
 
Gardner-Webb was playing heavy defense and it showed as the Highlanders fired a barrage of shots in the final half of play. With the match tied the Runnin' Bulldogs changed up their gameplan. It almost worked in the 68th minute when Maddie Turlington headed a ball on a corner kick that grazed the crossbar and went out of bounds. GWU fired two more shots but Courtenay Kaplan made two great saves to keep the score tied.
 
Moments after a missed shot, the Highlanders had a breakaway as Gabi Paupst played a perfect ball to Nelia Perez who got behind the defenders. Katelyn Kellogg, the Gardner-Webb keeper, made a play on the ball but Perez saw an opening and fired a shot. Kellogg tipped the shot but didn't get enough of it as the ball hit the left post and bounced into the goal giving Radford a 2-1 lead in the 81st minute.
 
Looking for more, the Highlanders took three more shots in the final nine minutes and held Gardner-Webb to just one. Once the clock hit zero, the Highlanders erupted with enthusiasm after claiming the 2019 Big South Tournament Champions.
 
Radford had a few good looks in the first half but couldn't get a shot to fall. The Runnin' Bulldogs only took six shots in the half but scored in the 20th minute. Jada Newton got past most of the Highlander defenders on a breakaway. She chipped a shot that hit a defender and popped over Kaplan's head bouncing towards the goal. Kayla Thomas was on a dead sprint to get there for the save but she didn't have enought time as it hit the post and bounced in giving GWU the early lead.
 
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
Radford led the two teams with 18 shots and holding Gardner-Webb to 11. Each goalkeeper came away with two saves. Perez and Brianna Oliver had eight of the 18 shots – with four each, while McLane and Alexeis Kirnos added three of their own. McLane and Perez were the only Highlanders with three shots on goal.
 
STAT OF THE MATCH
Radford fired 11 shots in the second half of the match, which resulted in the game-winner by Perez. The Highlanders scored six of their eight goals in the Big South Tournament in the second half or later.
 
DID YOU KNOW
Radford claimed its seventh Big South Tournament Title in program history, which is now the most of any Big South school. The Highlanders have now won back-to-back tournament titles for the second time in school history. The 16 wins this season also ties a single-season record and is the first time Radford has ever tallied 16 wins in two consecutive years.
 
TWEET OF THE MATCH  
QUOTABLE
"First off congratulations to Gardner Webb on a great season and making it back to the final," Ben Sohrabi opened. "I have a lot of respect for that group. I'm so proud of this team and I mean the entire team. This team showed so much cohesion and chemistry this season and truthfully had 29 players do it together. They were the cardiac kids in the tournament. Winning the quarterfinal 3-2 then coming from behind in the last two games showed their leadership, heart and determination. We backed 16 wins with 16 more wins this year while getting everyone's best game. This group had a lot of pressure and overcame it. I'm so proud of this team."
 
UP NEXT
The Highlanders will find out their opponent in the NCAA Tournament on Monday evening. The field of 64 will be announced on the NCAA Women's Soccer Selection Show at 4:30 p.m., streamed live on NCAA.com. There will be a watch party with a location to be determined.
 
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.
 
 
Print Friendly Version