STIFLING DEFENSE LEADS RADFORD TO 1-0 WIN OVER EAST CAROLINA

Sunday, September 1

Radford, Va.

2 p.m.

Radford University

3-1-0

East Carolina

0-2-1

Team	1	2	Final F
East Carolina	0	0	0
Radford	1	0	1

Photo by: Jacob Dos

STIFLING DEFENSE LEADS RADFORD TO 1-0 WIN OVER EAST CAROLINA

9/1/2019 5:32:00 PM | Women's Soccer

Box Score Box Score (PDF)

RADFORD, Va. – East Carolina handed Radford its largest regular season defeat in 2018 and the Highlanders avenged that loss with a 1-0 victory over the Pirates on Sunday afternoon at Cupp Stadium.

The strong defensive play by the Highlanders took a way any scoring chance the Pirates had. The first shot from either team came seven minutes after the opening kick and it came from East Carolina. The next two shots also came from the Pirates, but none broke the scoreless tie.

Radford's first shot didn't happen until the 27^th minute, but it was a difference maker. Nicole Ray found Gabi Paupst racing down the left side of the field. Paupst dribbled a few steps into the 18-yard box and crossed the ball to the right side of the field past the diving Pirate keeper and to Nelia Perez. The senior moved around a defender, saw the wide-open goal and didn't miss the golden opportunity for the game-winning goal.

27' • Radford 1, East Carolina 0

Nelia Perez finishes with her third goal of the season and gives the Highlanders a 1-0 lead!#RiseAndDefend x #BigSouthWSOC pic.twitter.com/VBm5JmlLJc
— Radford Women's Soccer (@RadfordWSOC) September 1, 2019

Radford fired six more shots for the remaining 18 minutes of the half but only one of them landed on frame and East Carolina only mustered up one shot for the remainder of the half. That changed in the second half.

Playing with a more offensive mentality, the Pirates played 10 players on the attacking side of the field for most of the second half. Kayla Thomas and the defense hunkered down and didn't let the attack heavy Pirates score for the final 45 minutes.

MOMENT THAT MATTERED
East Carolina fired nine second half shots after maintaining possession for the majority of the half. Junior goalkeeper Lexi Dean was put to the test and had two saves, but none bigger than the save in the 69^th minute. After a free kick shot bounced off the right post and back into play, Dean was on her heels. The ball found its way to Marianna Shurina from 20 yards out, who fired a shot, but Dean made a diving save to keep the score at bay.

69' • Radford 1, East Carolina 0

HUGE SAVE from Lexi Dean keeps the Highlanders lead intact ??#RiseAndDefend x #BigSouthWSOC pic.twitter.com/uu8qZHSTqg
— Radford Women's Soccer (@RadfordWSOC) September 1, 2019

TEAM LEADERS
East Carolina led the way with 13 shots, 10 of them coming from two different players in Daria Dravotich and Cashlin Copley. Radford only had eight shots led by Perez and Reese Degnan with three each. Courtenay Kaplan made her fourth start of the season in goal and came away with three saves. Perez notched her team-leading third goal of the season, while Paupst and Ray picked up an assist.

TWEET OF THE MATCH

@RadfordSoftball out supporting fellow HIGHLANDERS,@RadfordWSOC, KEEP GRINDIN'!!! pic.twitter.com/qiX762Nktx
— Radford Softball ?? (@RadfordSoftball) September 1, 2019

UP NEXT
The Highlanders played their last non-conference home match on Sunday and have four consecutive road contests. The first will remain in the commonwealth on Thursday against VMI in Lexington, Va., at 4 p.m.

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