Anderson Scores Early Goal on Free Kick, Highlanders Earn 1-1 Draw Against ETSU

Sunday, September 13

Radford, Va.

7:00 PM

Radford University

2-5-1, 0-0-0

ETSU

3-3-1, 0-0-0

Team	1	2	Final F
ETSU	0	1	1
Radford	1	0	1

Photo by: Rob Simmons

Anderson Scores Early Goal on Free Kick, Highlanders Earn 1-1 Draw Against ETSU

9/13/2026 10:04:00 PM | Women's Soccer

Box Score

RADFORD, Va. – The Radford women's soccer team closed out the non-conference portion of their schedule on a bit of a high note, as Ciaira Anderson's early goal helped the Highlanders tie ETSU, 1-1, on Sunday night at Cupp Stadium.

KEY STATS

Junior Ciaira Anderson netted her fourth goal of the season with an early score from a free kick.
Goalkeeper Lexi Radvanyi faced plenty of tough looks but saved six of seven ETSU attempts on target.
ETSU amassed 21 shots to Radford's seven, but only seven were on goal. The Highlanders totaled three shots on goal.
The Buccaneers earned nine total corner kicks but could only register a shot on four of the nine.
Radford is the first Big South team to earn a draw against ETSU this season, with UNC Asheville and Longwood falling to the Buccaneers in 2026.

PLAY BY PLAY
It took less than two minutes for Radford to score, taking the lead right out of the gates. An early foul committed by ETSU and drawn by Lilly Clayton set up Anderson to take a free kick from just outside the left corner of the box. After Mallory Harmison feigned a kick on a run through, Anderson lofted the ball over the 20 other players to the top right corner of the goal to make it 1-0 Radford.

The Highlanders seemingly played a defensive game the rest of the way, facing a tough opponent in ETSU. Radvanyi made a couple of nice early saves through the first 15 minutes to keep it 1-0. The Highlander back line also played a pair of corner kicks well, preventing ETSU from getting any quality shots off. After an ETSU free kick, Sadie Commerford got a recycled ball in about the same spot Anderson scored from on the other side of the pitch. Radvanyi punched her shot out of the air and over the crossbar, making her third save of the match and keeping Radford ahead.

ETSU kept up the pressure to begin the second half, taking some shots from distance but coming up empty. A good chance for Reagan Fitzgerald was read perfectly by Radvanyi, who grabbed her powerful shot in the 56^th minute for another save. After several more close attacks, Fitzgerald finally broke through, scoring the equalizer with just under 15 minutes left in the contest.

Shortly after the game-tying goal, a yellow card on a hard foul by the Buccaneers gave Brooke Pearson a free kick from some distance. The junior took a try at the net, with her shot sailing not all that far away from what would have been a sensational go-ahead goal. Radford got their first corner kick which eventually amounted to a pair of shots, but none coming away as great chances.

Things got chippy in the last few minutes. ETSU asked for and received three VAR looks from the officials, but all three stood as called on the field. The final one, looking for a foul away from the ball in the final four minutes, was the best hope the Buccaneers could have late. Despite Anderson picking up a yellow card in the 87^th minute, ETSU failed to get any great looks in the end, and the contest finished in a tie – a first for both sides this season.

SOHRABI QUOTABLE
"It was a great beginning of the game," recapped head coach Ben Sohrabi after the game. "Nice free kick from Ciaira (Anderson). I thought that at that point, we went a little bit more defensive. Our game plan was to defend and counter. Once we had the lead, it was all about defense. Late in the game, they got the equalizer, so I give a lot of credit to them and how hard they play. In the end, this is a positive result and a positive step towards conference play."

UP NEXT
Radford plays their first Big South match of the season at USC Upstate. Kickoff is set for 7:00 p.m. from County University Soccer Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 19, with coverage on ESPN+.

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