No. 1 Radford Advances to Championship Match in Penalty Kicks Over No. 5 Presbyterian
RADFORD, Va. – Radford advanced to its second Big South Tournament Championship in three years after
Aitor Pouseu Blanco blocked Presbyterian's first two penalty kick attempts, while the Highlanders found the back of the net on four of their five attempts to send Radford to the championship game on Sunday with a 4-2 PK advantage after 1-1 draw in double overtime.
The two Big South foes were scoreless for the first 82 minutes of the contest, despite Radford attempting 13 shots and 10 corner kicks during the span. Three of the Highlander 13 shots came on frame.
A defensive miscue at the 83:20 mark gave Presbyterian a 1-0 lead on their eighth shot attempt of the match. Mason Lewis took advantage of a misplayed ball by the Radford backline, stealing the errant pass and finishing the shot to the middle of the net past a diving Pouseu Blanco.
Playing into the blustery wind, Radford evened the match in the 86
th minute off a
Jakob Strandsäter corner kick into the middle of the box as
Kieran Roberts was able to get a head on the perfectly placed ball, finishing to the left post.
The two overtime periods saw Radford take four shots, while limiting Presbyterian to only one shot.
Heading to penalty kicks for the first time since a Nov. 14, 2014 tournament semifinal matchup against Winthrop, Radford sent out Roberts for the first attempt.
Roberts drilled his first attempt, giving the Highlanders a 1-0 advantage. Pouseu Blanco smothered Sergio Pinto's first attempt to the far left post on a diving attempt.
Sivert Daehlie was unable to find net on Radford's second attempt, missing high.
Following another Pouseu Blanco big save;
Jo Vetle Rimstad,
Fraser Colmer and Strandsäter were successful on their attempts. Jakob Luedtke and Brett Wilson tallied the two points for the Blue Hose, but leading 3-2, Colmer's PK sealed the deal to send the Highlanders to the tournament championship game.