Radford Wins 2019 Women's Soccer Championship, Advances to NCAA Tournament
The Radford women's soccer team defeated No. 4 Gardner-Webb, 2-1, to claim the 2019 Big South Women's Soccer Tournament Title on Sunday afternoon at the Matthews Sportsplex in Matthews, N.C.
The Highlanders went into the Sportsplex locker room with a 1-0 deficit through the first 45 minutes. Radford has been in that situation before and was even in a bigger hole just one game ago in the Big South Semifinals. However, the Highlanders never-quit attitude payed off in the tournament finale.
With five shots through the first 13 minutes in the second half, there was a sense in the air that the Highlanders would notch a goal and tie the match. That sense became a reality just one minute later as
Lily McLane tied it up.
After a foul was called on Gardner-Webb, McLane set up the ball up for a free kick from about 35 yards out. She kicked a lofty shot that appeared to be a pass into the box but was placed perfectly in the left upper 90 just over the leaping goalkeeper. The junior jumped for excitement as she put the Highlanders on the board in the 60
th minute.
Gardner-Webb was playing heavy defense and it showed as the Highlanders fired a barrage of shots in the final half of play. With the match tied the Runnin' Bulldogs changed up their gameplan. It almost worked in the 68
th minute when Maddie Turlington headed a ball on a corner kick that grazed the crossbar and went out of bounds. GWU fired two more shots but
Courtenay Kaplan made two great saves to keep the score tied.
Moments after a missed shot, the Highlanders had a breakaway as
Gabi Paupst played a perfect ball to
Nelia Perez who got behind the defenders. Katelyn Kellogg, the Gardner-Webb keeper, made a play on the ball but Perez saw an opening and fired a shot. Kellogg tipped the shot but didn't get enough of it as the ball hit the left post and bounced into the goal giving Radford a 2-1 lead in the 81
st minute.
Looking for more, the Highlanders took three more shots in the final nine minutes and held Gardner-Webb to just one. Once the clock hit zero, the Highlanders erupted with enthusiasm after claiming the 2019 Big South Tournament Champions.
Radford had a few good looks in the first half but couldn't get a shot to fall. The Runnin' Bulldogs only took six shots in the half but scored in the 20
th minute. Jada Newton got past most of the Highlander defenders on a breakaway. She chipped a shot that hit a defender and popped over Kaplan's head bouncing towards the goal.
Kayla Thomas was on a dead sprint to get there for the save but she didn't have enought time as it hit the post and bounced in giving GWU the early lead.
Radford led the two teams with 18 shots and holding Gardner-Webb to 11. Each goalkeeper came away with two saves. Perez and
Brianna Oliver had eight of the 18 shots – with four each, while McLane and
Alexeis Kirnos added three of their own. McLane and Perez were the only Highlanders with three shots on goal.
Radford fired 11 shots in the second half of the match, which resulted in the game-winner by Perez. The Highlanders scored six of their eight goals in the Big South Tournament in the second half or later.
Radford claimed its seventh Big South Tournament Title in program history, which is now the most of any Big South school. The Highlanders have now won back-to-back tournament titles for the second time in school history. The 16 wins this season also ties a single-season record and is the first time Radford has ever tallied 16 wins in two consecutive years.
"First off congratulations to Gardner Webb on a great season and making it back to the final,"
Ben Sohrabi opened. "I have a lot of respect for that group. I'm so proud of this team and I mean the entire team. This team showed so much cohesion and chemistry this season and truthfully had 29 players do it together. They were the cardiac kids in the tournament. Winning the quarterfinal 3-2 then coming from behind in the last two games showed their leadership, heart and determination. We backed 16 wins with 16 more wins this year while getting everyone's best game. This group had a lot of pressure and overcame it. I'm so proud of this team."
The Highlanders will find out their opponent in the NCAA Tournament on Monday evening. The field of 64 will be announced on the NCAA Women's Soccer Selection Show at 4:30 p.m., streamed live on NCAA.com. There will be a watch party with a location to be determined.
Big South Women's Soccer All-Tournament Team
Nelia Perez, Radford (MVP)
Gabi Paupst, Radford
Kayla Thomas, Radford
Lily McLane, Radford
Jada Newton, Gardner-Webb
Katelyn Kellogg, Gardner-Webb
Stina Kleppe, Gardner-Webb
Shaylyn Owen, High Point
Allie Reagan, High Point
Alexa Genas, Campbell
Hanna Maansson, Campbell
Kori Lawrence, Presbyterian College
Dylan Patterson, Winthrop
Jazmin Gonzalez, Charleston Southern
Kiersten Yuhas, Longwood