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Radford University Athletics

Home Of The RadFord Highlanders RadFord Highlanders
Team
2
Longwood LWU (6-9-2, 4-4-2 BSC)
3
Winner Radford RAD (14-5, 7-3 BSC)
Longwood LWU
(6-9-2, 4-4-2 BSC)
2
Final
3
Radford RAD
(14-5, 7-3 BSC)
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
Longwood LWU 0 2 2
Radford RAD 2 1 3

Game Recap: Women's Soccer |

RADFORD TOPS LONGWOOD IN WILD QUARTERFINAL MATCH

RADFORD, Va. – Three different Highlanders notched goals in a wild Big South Tournament Quarterfinal matchup against Longwood on Saturday night. All three goals were crucial as the Radford women's soccer team topped the Lancers, 3-2, advancing to the Semifinals in Matthews, N.C.
 
Everything was going third-seeded Radford's way in the first half as the team carried a 2-0 lead into the locker room after 45 minutes of play. Nelia Perez scored her team-leading 11th goal of the season in the 25th minute. Lily McLane found Emily Dunn at the top of the box. Dunn then found Perez near the 8-yard box, who volleyed in the ball into the bottom of net with her right foot. The fantastic finish gave Radford a 1-0 lead.
 
Perez, who tallied four points in the match, assisted on the second goal of the half just four minutes after she scored. She found Brianna Oliver in the middle of the field who dribbled around a defender and fired the shot. The junior placed the ball perfectly past the goalkeeper for the Highlanders' second score of the game.
 
The offensive firepower didn't stop for Radford in the second half as Perez lended another helping hand for a score. The Newport News, Va., native was the fastest player on the field and she showed it blowing past the Lancer defenders. A pair of Lancers moved towards her and left the team's second leading goal scorer, Gabi Paupst, wide open in the middle of the field.
 
A Longwood defender noticed the Grimsby, Ontario, Canada native wide open and tried to crash towards her but was too late. By that time Paupst had placed her shot in the right side of the goal giving Radford a 3-0 advantage in the 63rd minute. All seemed to be in control for the Highlanders until 31 seconds later.
 
The Lancers cut the deficit to two as Emilie Kupsov paced through defenders made a move until she fired a shot that zoomed past Courtenay Kaplan. Longwood wasn't done scoring and kept the offensive pursuit at an all-time high.
 
Kiersten Yuhas scored an unassisted goal in the 76th minute for Longwood. Her goal was a lot like Kupsov's as she bobbed and weaved through defenders creating enough space to fire a shot that was just above the outstretched hand of Kaplan in the middle of the goal. Kupsov's goal cut the Highlander lead to one and creating chaos in the final 14 minutes.
 
The Lancers fired four more shots in the final 14 minutes but none of the shots found the back of the net as the Highlander defense, led by the Defensive Player of the Year in Kayla Thomas, stood their ground. Longwood led both teams with 16 shots, including seven on goal.
 
Kaplan also had two of her five saves in the final 10 minutes. She played the full 90 minutes in goal and picked up another win.
 
TEAM LEADERS
Aside from Perez's four points, Brianna Oliver and Gabi Paupst notched three of their own with goals and assists. Lily McLane and Emily Dunn also picked up assists in the match. Perez fired four of the teams 12 shots, while Oliver chipped in three.
 
TWEET OF THE MATCH  
UP NEXT
With the win, Radford will face No. 2 Campbell in the Big South Tournament Semifinals on Thursday in Matthews, N.C. Kickoff is slated for 7 p.m.
 
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.
 
 
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