#4 Radford Shuts Out #5 Gardner-Webb, 2-0 to Reach Semifinals
By Radford Athletics
RADFORD, Va. – The Radford women's soccer team ran it back and came up with the same result, besting Gardner-Webb, 2-0, at Cupp Stadium for the second time in 2026 to open the Big South Tournament. The Highlanders move on to face top-seeded USC Upstate on Tuesday in Spartanburg, S.C., in the conference semifinals.
KEY FACTS
* Magda Carpenter scored her second goal against the Runnin' Bulldogs this season to put the Highlanders ahead in the eighth minute.
* Ava Kertgate found the net in the second half, giving the Highlanders a cushion in the 67th minute.
* Radford outshot Gardner-Webb 18-5 and totaled 11 shots on goal to their three.
* Fouls were even at seven, with Katie Purnell and Ryane Devlin receiving the lone two bookings for the contest.
* Lexi Radvanyi made three saves to add her fifth clean sheet of the season and fourth over the past five games.
PLAY BY PLAY
If there were any nerves to be had by the Radford team, they sure did not show it. The Highlanders began on the attack and scored on one of their first real chances. Playing the advantage after what would've been a foul on the Runnin' Bulldogs, the ball found Haley Blake just outside of the box. The senior cut vertically to the right, allowing Carpenter to sprint and create some space. The midfielder cut into the box and hit a sliding shot with her left foot past the goalkeeper to give the Highlanders the 1-0 lead less than 10 minutes in.
Ciaira Anderson almost found the net about a minute later but a diving stop by Gardner-Webb goalkeeper Abril Montiel's diving deflection kept it a one-goal contest. Anderson found herself again with room to run, and the junior's shot failed to clear Montiel's outstretched glove. In the 18th minute, first-team all-conference Julia McBride got the best look for the Runnin' Bulldogs of the night. Trying to shoot across Radvanyi, her kick from 10 yards out found the waiting hands of the Radford goalkeeper.
What was nearly a devastating moment for Radford, Purnell fouled Montiel in the box after a set play, with what appeared to be inadvertent contact. After a VAR review, the officials showed the senior a yellow card – which kept the Highlanders at full strength for the rest of the game. Radvanyi made another save to end the half, keeping the Highlanders up one after 45.
After a strong offensive half, the Highlander defense came to secure the victory. Gardner-Webb pressed and found opportunities in the box, but the Radford back line swept all of those chances away. Caitlyn Nottingham made one of the top plays of the night, splitting a pair of defenders before finding Brooke Pearson in the box. Pearson made the unselfish play, waiting to find a cutting Kertgate in position. The pass was perfect, teeing up Kertgate's boot for the second goal of the night.
Aside from Devlin picking up a card for a hard tackle, things were smooth sailing for the Highlanders the rest of the way. Gardner-Webb ended the second half with just two more shots and no shots on goal, speaking to how difficult the Highlander back line made things for the Runnin' Bulldogs.
UP NEXT
The triumph keeps the Highlanders' season alive and gives them a chance to avenge a game that was not entirely finished the first time around against the No. 1 seed USC Upstate Spartans. Kickoff is set for 6:00 p.m. in Spartanburg, S.C., on Tuesday, November 10, and will air live on ESPN+.