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Radford University Athletics

Home Of The RadFord Highlanders RadFord Highlanders
CarterMcClain
2
Radford RFD (1-2-2, 0-0-0)
2
ETSU ETSU (0-4-1, 0-0-0)
Radford RFD
(1-2-2, 0-0-0)
2
Final
2
ETSU ETSU
(0-4-1, 0-0-0)
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
Radford RFD 0 2 2
ETSU ETSU 2 0 2

Game Recap: Men's Soccer |

Men’s Soccer Delivers Gutsy Second Half Performance to Draw at ETSU

JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. – The Radford men's soccer program battled back from down two goals scoring twice in the second half to secure a gutsy 2-2 tie at ETSU on Wednesday night.
 
KEY STATS
  • Both of Radford's goal scorers, Carter McClain and Hiromasa Iwai, also scored in the Highlanders victory last weekend against Howard.
  • Ben Miller played a crucial role in the net finishing the night with a season-high seven saves.
  • ETSU came into the match winners of the last three meetings, with the Highlanders snapping the streak that dated back to 2017.
  • Radford outdrew ETSU in corners 7-5.
  • Gianluca Franco's assist on the first goal was his first as a Highlander.
 
PLAY BY PLAY
The Buccaneers controlled play at the start of Wednesday's match, and for a majority of the first half overall. Just 14 minutes in, ETSU took the early 1-0 lead and followed in the 32nd minute to add another goal for a 2-0 lead that stood through the opening 45 minutes.
 
Shaking up the lineup to start the second half, the Highlanders came back with a new intensity that flipped the pressure back onto the Buccaneers. In the 54th minute, Radford's aggression paid off as Franco was able to send a pass deep into enemy territory to McClain. Looking to score in a second straight match, McClain did the rest himself bending a shot into the very far edge of the net that the goalie could do nothing but look at as Radford cut the deficit to 2-1.
 
The Highlanders kept at it but couldn't get a shot on target until nearly 20 minutes later. With the clock winding down, Radford found its equalizer off the reigning Big South Player of the Week. After a great cross into the box from Anton Jerga, Iwai put on a hot shot that the goalie initially deflected but bounced backwards and into the back of the net to tie the match at 2-2.
 
Not satisfied with the tie, the Highlanders attack remained relentless. The Highlanders would get multiple good looks with nothing quite finding the same success. In the final seconds, ETSU found renewed energy as chaos broke out in the box. The Buccaneers would get multiple great looks with one shot ringing off the post and another being blocked by Donovan McClellan.
 
The Highlanders defense bent, didn't break, and the final whistle blew in an alleviating breath of air that ended the match in a 2-2 tie. With the draw against the reigning Southern Conference regular season champions, the Highlanders have stayed hot using five goals over the last two matches while shutting out their opponent in three of the last four halves played.
 
UP NEXT
Radford will look to keep rolling as they stick to the road for their next match on Saturday, September 13th at Queens (NC). Action will kickoff at 6 p.m., with no live stream but live stats available.

STAY SOCIAL WITH RADFORD MEN'S SOCCER
For all the latest on Radford men's soccer, be sure to follow the team on X (@RadfordMSOC), Instagram (@radfordmsoc), and "like" the team's official Facebook Page (Radford Men's Soccer).
 
#RiseAndDefend
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