Highlanders Score Two Early Goals, Hold Off Eagles For Big South Win

Saturday, September 26

Radford, Va.

7:00 PM

Radford University

3-5-1, 1-0-0

Winthrop

3-7-1, 0-2-0

Team	1	2	Final F
Winthrop	0	1	1
Radford	2	0	2

Game Notes

Photo by: Rob Simmons

Highlanders Score Two Early Goals, Hold Off Eagles For Big South Win

9/26/2026 10:17:00 PM | Women's Soccer

Box Score

RADFORD, Va. – The Radford women's soccer team scored two goals in the first six minutes, setting the tone before holding off Winthrop, 2-1, on Saturday night at Cupp Stadium.

KEY STATS

Katie Purnell scored her first goal of the season, sending in a shot after Ava Kertgate's cross was deflected in the third minute.
Lilly Clayton followed Purnell with her first goal of the season coming in the sixth minute.
Radford's Lexi Radvanyi made eight saves on nine shots on goal in the win.
The Eagles had more shots and shots on goal.
No Highlanders picked up a booking in the contest.
Radford has won eight of their last nine at home against Winthrop, and have not suffered a lost at home to the Eagles since the 2007 season.

PLAY BY PLAY
Entering the night with a 2-5-1 record and a tough showing against USC Upstate last Saturday, the Highlanders made the most of some early opportunities to jump ahead by two goals. Kertgate started a charge towards the box, and her cross from the left was partially deflected but not fully cleared by the Eagles. The ball found its way right to the feet of Purnell, who's high-percentage look found the net to make it 1-0 before anyone was comfortable in Cupp Stadium.

Less than a handful of minutes later, it was Magda Carpenter who sent a great ball ahead and into the box. The pass found Purnell and Clayton in nearly the same spot. Purnell possessed it first before running into a pair of Winthrop defenders. She unselfishly passed it over to Clayton, who scored a chip in shot from just a few yards out to make it 2-0 Highlanders, just shy of six minutes into the contest.

Winthrop almost got one back right away, as Monssi Avila-Gutierrez took a shot that hit the middle of the crossbar but was denied. A few more shots from distance really did not threaten Radvanyi, who made most of her saves with ease in the first half. One of her better saves came with just over seven minutes left before halftime, as she corralled a shot from close range from Cordelia McIntosh. The Highlanders managed to rotate some substitutions and give their starters a bit of a break near the end of the first half while still managing to keep a two-goal advantage into the locker room.

The Highlanders appeared working close to their third goal early in the second half, winning several chances on corner kicks, but failing to break through. Kertgate took a corner short and appeared to have found Hope Ku-Dipietro for the team's third score, only for the goal to be called off for offsides, which withstood a Radford VAR challenge.

The Eagles finally won a corner kick, which set off a string of chances, as Radford could only send the ball past the end line for four straight corners. On the fourth attempt, Avila-Gutierrez's kick found McIntosh, who scored from just a handful of yards out to make it a 2-1 game with just over a dozen minutes left.

Winthrop kept the pressure up trying to find an equalizer, but the Highlanders held off with possession. Avila-Gutierrez received a yellow card after giving Kertgate's jersey a good stretch in the midfield with 10 minutes left. Radford almost had a breakaway open goal that would have sealed the contest, as Anderson had a wide open net late. However, the junior lost control of her dribble, which allowed the Eagles defense to recover. Two shots from well over 25 yards from Winthrop sailed off the mark in the closing minutes, allowing Radford to hold on for the 2-1 triumph.

SOHRABI QUOTABLE
"All these Big South games are going to be tough battles," began Head Coach Ben Sohrabi postgame. "They're going to be close games. I'm really proud of our team for pulling it out in the end. I felt like we played really well in the beginning of the game. I thought we played well in the beginning of the second half as well. We had a chance to put them away. When we have those kinds of chances, we have to put them away. The only thing I'm really disappointed about in the second half is giving up the set piece. And them scoring on the corner kick. Overall, it's a good win. Happy for our team."

UP NEXT
The Highlanders are back at Cupp Stadium on Wednesday night as they welcome UNC Asheville to the New River Valley. The action begins at 7:00 p.m. and can be seen on ESPN+.

STAY SOCIAL WITH RADFORD WOMEN'S SOCCER
For all the latest on Radford women's soccer, be sure to follow the team on X (@RadfordWSOC), Instagram (@radfordwsoc), and "like" the team's official Facebook Page (Radford Women's Soccer).

#RiseAndDefend