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Radford University Athletics

Home Of The RadFord Highlanders RadFord Highlanders
Lilly Short
Rob Simmons
2
Radford RAD (9-4-5, 3-1-3)
3
Winner High Point HPU (9-6-3, 5-2-1)
Radford RAD
(9-4-5, 3-1-3)
2
Final
3
High Point HPU
(9-6-3, 5-2-1)
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 OT 1 F
Radford RAD 0 2 0 2
High Point HPU 1 1 1 3

Game Recap: Women's Soccer |

Overtime Thriller Ends in Heartbreak for Women’s Soccer at Big South Semifinals

MATTHEWS, N.C. – The Radford women's soccer program battled for over 90 minutes in the Big South semifinals Thursday night, coming up just short 3-2 in overtime after a thrilling finish.
 
KEY STATS
  • Radford's first goal came off the head of Lilly Short who capped her incredible junior campaign with 10 goals.
  • The Highlanders second goal came off an own goal with Jashyra Johnson and Paige Olson in on the box to make it happen.
  • High Point drew seven corners to Radford's five in the match, with the seventh being the back breaker sneaking in for the golden goal.
  • Neither team drew an offsides or drew a card in the clean, evenly played match.
 
PLAY BY PLAY
With a conference championship bid on the line, two of the top squads in the Big South in High Point and Radford squared off at the neutral site complex in Matthews, N.C. Both teams were evenly matched throughout the night as attack opportunities came often putting both defenses to the test.
 
After the two teams were deadlocked in a 0-0 tie through 37 minutes of play, it was the Panthers who would strike first off a corner kick for the 1-0 lead. Radford's defense would keep that margin through the end of the first half as the team dug deep for a response in the back half of the match.
 
In the 61st minute, Radford got its equalizer. Short, well accustomed to the Matthews Sportsplex confines after winning Tournament MVP in 2023, was right in the middle of the action once again. Jillian Silverstone sent a strong feed into the box for Short who headed the ball to the back of the net to ignite the Highlanders' offense.
 
The Highlanders from there would get multiple strikes that came inches away from scoring. Both Eileen Albers and Jashyra Johnson would have shots ring off the crossbar. Neither team would be able to push across a potential decider until a chaotic final minute unfolded.
 
With just a minute to go, Radford got a solid scoring opportunity thanks to a sprinting Johnson who crossed the ball to Paige Olson in the box. Olson ripped off a shot that rang off the post. The ricocheted shot, however, bounced off a High Point defender and found the goal to give Radford the 2-1 advantage.
 
Just 15 seconds later, though, High Point was able to find a miracle goal of their own. After racing down the field off the kick off, High Point earned a header that evened the match back up at 2-2 and forced overtime.
 
Just four minutes into overtime, the Panthers offense would strike again. Coming off a straight corner kick, the shot struck the crossbar and this time bounced backwards to the net for the 3-2 final to end the Highlanders season.
 
HEAD COACH SOHRABI QUOTABLE
"It was a roller coaster of emotions at the end of the game and we didn't close it up when we had the advantage. I thought we played a brilliant second half and found a way to go ahead. It was disappointing to give the lead away right away. I want to thank our seniors for their leadership on and off the field and everything they have meant to this program. I also want to thank everyone (staff, administrators, fans, and so many more) at RADFORD for their support this year." – Ben Sohrabi.
 
FOLLOW RADFORD WOMEN'S SOCCER ON SOCIAL MEDIA
For more information on the Radford women's soccer team follow @RadfordWSOC on X and Instagram or Radford Women's Soccer on Facebook.
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