RADFORD TRAVELS TO GARDNER-WEBB FOR BIG SOUTH QUARTERFINAL MATCH

RADFORD, Va. – After securing an overtime win on the final day of the regular season, the Radford men's soccer team travels to Gardner-Webb on Sunday evening for a quarterfinal match in the Big South Championship. Kickoff from Greene-Harbison Stadium is scheduled for 6 p.m.

Dondre' Robinson's game-winner in the 98th minute against Longwood on Wednesday clinched the sixth and final spot in the Big South Championship for the Highlanders. Radford finished the season tied with UNC Asheville on nine points in the conference standings, but the Highlanders earned the final spot by virtue of their 2-1 win over the Bulldogs earlier in the season.

The Highlanders have been led in scoring this season by freshman midfielder Mouhameth Thiam. The Senegal native has five goals this season, with four coming in Big South Conference matches, and has also added three assists. Thiam was selected to the Big South All-Freshman Team, making him one of two Radford players to earn all-freshman honors this year.

Defender Octavio Ocampo joined Thiam on the all-freshman team and was also a Second Team All-Big South selection after scoring three goals and adding three assists in 15 starts for the Highlanders. Midfielder Victor Valls was also an all-conference second team selection after setting a career high with three goals, including an overtime winner against Howard. The all-conference selection made Valls a four-time all-conference honoree, after previously earning all-freshman honors and both first and second-team all-conference honors.

The Highlanders' backline is full of veteran presence, as former all-freshman selection Thure Ilgner and 2019 CoSIDA Academic All-District and Big South All-Academic Team selection Jacob Wilkinson anchor the center of the backline, with Max-Emilios Angelides, Bryan Scoffield, Baptiste Fousse and Ocampo all spending time as fullbacks. Radford's depth in the back has allowed for players like Ocampo and Wyatt Erzen to play both in the back and as a midfielder. Freshman goalkeeper Joseba Incera has a 1.71 goals against average for the Highlanders, starting all but two games this year after beginning the season as the No. 2 goalkeeper.

Gardner-Webb defeated Radford in overtime in the lone meeting between the teams this year, 2-1. Both players who scored for the Runnin' Bulldogs in that match earned all-conference honors, as Oskar Wang was a first-team selection and Laurits Lillemose earned both second-team and all-freshman honors. Forwards Pedro Benito and Abel Gebrekiros also earned second-team honors for Gardner-Webb.

The Runnin' Bulldogs feature four players who have at least 10 points this year, as Wang (20), Jorge Salgado (12), Gebrekiros (12) and Benito (11) have all hit the double-figure mark. Daniel Husa has a 1.79 goals against average as Gardner-Webb's primary goalkeeper.

Radford will be making its 25th consecutive appearance in the Big South Tournament and has reached the semifinals in the conference tournament each of the last seven seasons, including the Highlanders' most recent conference tournament title in 2016. Radford has also had success against Gardner-Webb in the conference tournament, going 3-0-0 against the Runnin' Bulldogs in postseason play.

With a win, Radford will travel to High Point, the No. 2 seed, on Wednesday for a 7 p.m. semifinal match.

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Players Mentioned

#14 Max-Emilios Angelides: D; 5' 10"; Junior

#15 Wyatt Erzen: MF; 5' 10"; Senior

#8 Thure Ilgner: D; 6' 5"; Sophomore

#16 Dondre' Robinson: F; 6' 2"; Junior

#34 Bryan Scoffield: D; 5' 8"; Sophomore

#5 Victor Valls: MF; 5' 9"; Redshirt Senior

#20 Jacob Wilkinson: D; 6' 2"; Redshirt Junior

#1 Joseba Incera: GK; 6' 2"; Freshman

#2 Octavio Ocampo: D; 6' 1"; Freshman

#10 Mouhameth Thiam: M; 5' 5"; Freshman

Players Mentioned

#14 Max-Emilios Angelides
: 5' 10"; Junior
: D

#15 Wyatt Erzen
: 5' 10"; Senior
: MF

#8 Thure Ilgner
: 6' 5"; Sophomore
: D

#16 Dondre' Robinson
: 6' 2"; Junior
: F

#34 Bryan Scoffield
: 5' 8"; Sophomore
: D

#5 Victor Valls
: 5' 9"; Redshirt Senior
: MF

#20 Jacob Wilkinson
: 6' 2"; Redshirt Junior
: D

#1 Joseba Incera
: 6' 2"; Freshman
: GK

#2 Octavio Ocampo
: 6' 1"; Freshman
: D

#10 Mouhameth Thiam
: 5' 5"; Freshman
: M