RADFORD, Va. – Goals from Alex Kryazhev and Jared Dubose lifted the Radford men's soccer team to a 2-0 victory over USC Upstate at Cupp Stadium on Wednesday night.
"Our guys have never stopped believing in each other and it showed tonight," commented head coach Chris Barrett. "I am so proud of how these guys have stuck together during some tough times. Tonight showed what kind of team we are and can be going forward. We are still very much in the hunt for a top 4 seed in the conference, which was our first goal of the season. We must now turn our attention to the next most important game on our schedule versus a very good Asheville team this Saturday."
The first goal came in the 3rd minute, courtesy of Alex Kryazhev, after an Upstate player made a crucial mistake in the back. His pass landed directly in the path of Kryazhev and he found the just the right angle to put it in the back of the net and give the Highlanders the early lead. The rest of the half was a continuous back and forth with both sides being able to get shots off but the scoreline remained 1-0 at the break.
Jared Dubose bagged his first goal of the season to double the Radford lead in the 51st minute. After a ball into the box bounced around multiple players, Kryazhev delivered a pinpoint header pass that allowed Dubose to flick it to himself and get off the shot right down the middle of the net to give the Highlanders a 2-0 lead.
The rest of tonight's match once more was a continuous physical back and forth until the final whistle. While Upstate had many chances to cut the lead in half, goalkeeper Alex Eydelman was able to accumulate six saves that would preserve the 2-0 lead for the Highlanders.
KEY STATS
- The Highlanders got off 12 shots, with Alex Kryazhev leading with six total shots
- The Highlanders' Jared Dubose scores first goal of the season
- The Highlander's forced Upstate's goalkeeper to save five shots
UP NEXT
The Highlanders are on the road to Asheville, N.C. as they face UNC Asheville to continue conference play on Saturday, Oct. 14. That match is set for a 4 p.m. kickoff and will be streamed on ESPN+.
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