Photo Credit: Sideline Sports http://www.bigsouthphotos.com

NO. 6 Radford 2, No. 3 Charleston Southern 1 (OT)
CHARLESTON, S.C. – No. 6 Radford University defeated No. 3 Charleston Southern 2-1 in overtime in the fourth game of the 2009 Big South Women’s Soccer Championship presented by Musco Sports Lighting Thursday at Blackbaud Stadium in Charleston, S.C.  The Highlanders will play No. 7 seed High Point University Friday night at 7:00pm in the semifinals, its second-consecutive semifinal appearance.  It was the first time in Big South history all four lower seeds were victorious in the quarterfinal round of the Big South Champioinship. 

Marky Boyce put CSU ahead in the 10th minute with a header off a cross from Jen Vroman and Lindsey Trexler.  The goal was Boyce’s conference-leading 14th marker of the season.

Justine Dugger tied the game up in the 20th minute when the Highlanders were awarded a free kick just outside the 18-yard box.  Dugger took the free kick and found the back of the net as her shot went near post.

Neither could find another goal in regulation, so an overtime session was needed to decide the winner. In the 98th minute, Dugger found space inside the box and took a strike.  The shot was saved by CSU goalkeeper Jena Lalich, but Caitlyn Roan was there to finish the play and send Radford into the semifinals.

Dugger led Radford with one goal and one assist, while Caitlyn Roan scored the game-winning goal.  Boyce had the lone goal for CSU, while Trexler and Vroman each recorded an assist.

CSU outshot RU 21-11, and Lisa Lubke (9-10) earned the win after playing 97:19 and saving two shots.  Lalich (7-3-2) also played all 97:19, and she took the loss after allowing the two goals and saving three shots.

Radford improves to 9-10 on the year, while Charleston Southern ends its season at 12-6-2.  Radford will be making its 10th appearance in the Big South Tournament semifinals. 

QUOTES

Charleston Southern Head Coach Eric Terrill
“It’s just one of those situations where they finished on set plays. We’ve got to put balls away, we had so many opportunities and we just didn’t put them away, and that keeps teams in the game. We give a lot of credit to Radford, they have a good program and a good coaching staff.”

Radford Head Coach Ben Sohrabi
“It was a good game and Charleston Southern is a great team. I thought both teams played really well. I really felt like they had a great first half and we had a really good second half. Big South games, if both teams play well it comes down to a mistake here or there and we just capitalized on their mistakes.”