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Radford University Athletics

Home Of The RadFord Highlanders RadFord Highlanders
0
Radford RAD (12-4-4, 6-2-1)
4
Winner Duke Duke (13-4-3, 6-2-2)
Radford RAD
(12-4-4, 6-2-1)
0
Final
4
Duke Duke
(13-4-3, 6-2-2)
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
Radford RAD 0 0 0
Duke Duke 2 2 4
Parris NCAA
Rob Simmons

Game Recap: Women's Soccer |

Women’s Soccer's Season Ends After Valiant Effort in NCAA Tournament First Round

DURHAM, N.C. – The Radford women's soccer program's incredible run came to an end Saturday night in the NCAA Tournament First Round where the team fell to the second-seeded Duke by a final score of 4-0.

The Radford defense, who hadn't given up a goal in a full month to opponents, came into the game stout. The Highlanders held a top-ten program in the country to just a single shot on goal in the opening 20 minutes. Goalkeeper Jordan Phillips helped keep things scoreless throughout most of the half with a pair of saves. Big South Tournament MVP Helena Willson also set the tone for the defense with multiple defensive tops in some aggressive play.

In the 26th minute, the scoreless streak dating back to October 12th finally came to an end for the Highlander defense. Duke's offense finally broke through for a 1-0 lead. In the 33rd minute, the Blue Devils struck again for their second goal of the night. The 2-0 margin by Duke would hold until halftime as the Highlanders' regrouped for a comeback attempt.

Radford would create more offensive opportunities for themselves in the second half despite the deficit. After Duke added another pair of goals in the 51st and 65th minutes, the Highlanders drew a corner kick attempt in the 74th minute. Radford would line up outside of the net and come crashing in as Saleena Lynch got a clean header off that the Duke goalie made a save on to keep Radford scoreless.

Phillips continued her great night in the net despite facing loads of pressure as well. After four saves in the first half, Phillips recorded another four in the second half including two diving stops on some missiles fired by the Blue Devils.

As the minutes began winding down, head coach Ben Sohrabi subbed out the Highlanders' starting players for a send-off with the season coming to a close. Duke would hold on the rest of the way and seal the 4-0 victory to advance to the second round.

"I'm so proud of the year this team has had," commented head coach Sohrabi. "It starts with our captains, our seniors and the great leadership they provided all throughout the year. This group was a pleasure to coach and made practice and games a real joy for me. I think that this team has accomplished so much this year and I continue to look forward to what the senior class has left for us to continue to build on in the future."

"Of course we would have loved to have had a better result but Duke has a lot of resources and I thought that we competed well for 90 minutes. That being said I feel like our team left it on the field and gave everything they had. Thanks so much to our administration, staff, fans, alumni and the entire Highlander nation."

The result tonight marks an end to what will go down as a memorable 2022 season for the Highlanders. The 2022 Highlanders had nothing given to them and had to fight all season long to achieve their goals. The team outscored opponents 40-19 on the season led by familiar faces Kat Parris and Amy Swain but also by some newer faces Paige Olson and Lilly Short.

Radford did not lose a single road match outside of the NCAA Tournament, a mark not set since the 2002 Big South Championship team did it two decades ago. The Highlander faithful got a front-row seat to another winning record at Cupp Stadium. The future remains bright for the Highlanders who will celebrate 2022 before the calendar flips and an exciting new story begins in 2023.

FOLLOW RADFORD 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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Scoring Summary

Scoring Summary
Scoring Team Scoring Play
25:39
Duke Kat Rader (12)
Assisted By: Michelle Cooper , Emily Royson
GOAL by Duke Rader, Kat Assist by Cooper, Michelle and Royson, Emily.
32:56
Duke Michelle Cooper (15)
GOAL by Duke Cooper, Michelle.
50:46
Duke Elle Piper (1)
Assisted By: Katie Groff
GOAL by Duke Piper, Elle Assist by Groff, Katie.
64:12
Duke Michelle Cooper (15)
Assisted By: Mackenzie Pluck
GOAL by Duke Cooper, Michelle Assist by Pluck, Mackenzie.

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