RADFORD, Va. — On a day in which Radford honored three seniors playing their final regular season home match at Cupp Stadium, the Highlanders' men's soccer team fell on a last-minute penalty kick goal to UNC Asheville 2-1 on Saturday afternoon.

"Full credit goes to Asheville," said Radford head coach Chris Barrett. "They are a really good team with a not-so-great record. I thought we played really well in the first part of the second half and had chances to score the second goal. We didn't finish our chances and Asheville scores against the run of play and the game changes dramatically. Overall, I am really proud of this team. We still have a very remote chance of finishing in the top four. We made a great run at the last part of our season to put ourselves in contention for a top-four finish. Regardless of how it all shakes out, I am really proud of the overall improvement of the team and the future of our program with these young men."

Seniors Joseba Incera, Saber El-Abani, and Anthony Giannecchini were all recognized before the match for their contributions to Radford soccer. Incera, a four-year starter at goalkeeper, got the nod in net today, stopping 10 shots on goal.

The first half was a very physical one, with both teams pushing the ball into the attacking zone, though neither side scored. However, the Highlanders (4-10-2, 3-4-1 Big South) were able to break through midway through the second half. In the 71st minute, Greg Harris found a cutting Jared Dubose, and the redshirt sophomore forward headed a perfect cross into the left side of the goal. For Dubose, it was his team-leading fifth goal of the season.

But the advantage was short-lived, as UNC Asheville (2-10-4, 1-3-3 Big South) had a response soon. In the 79th minute, the Bulldogs' Conor Behan was able to sneak a pass just inside the right post as it trickled past a diving Incera to the back of the net, tying the game at 1-1.

The visitors kept up the pressure, and in the final minute of the game, Brendan Herb drew a foul in the 18-yard box. Herb converted the ensuing penalty kick to put his team ahead 2-1, and UNC Asheville held on for the final 55 seconds to seal the win.

The two teams combined for 39 shots on the afternoon, with the Bulldogs' holding a 20-19 edge in that department. Samuel Schwarz paced the Highlanders with four shorts, including one on goal, while Dubose and midfielder Jan Maldonado had three apiece. In total, 10 different Radford players recorded a shot.

UP NEXT
With the regular season concluded, Radford will await their fate for the Big South Tournament which begins next week. The Highlanders are currently seeded fourth, but will need help from several other teams to qualify for the postseason.

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