RADFORD, VA – Kathryn Johnston’s goal in the 100th minute of action lifted the Radford Highlanders to a 1-0 overtime victory over Winthrop on Saturday afternoon at Patrick D. Cupp Memorial Stadium.

With the loss, the Eagles fall to 8-6 overall and 4-2 in the Big South. The Highlanders improve to 11-3 on the season and 6-0 in conference play.

“Our team battled hard today against a very good Radford team,” said head coach Spencer Smith. “We were a little unfortunate to not get a result. I feel we are playing better with each passing game. We just need to keep working hard for each other.”

The goal by Johnston came in the final minute of the first overtime period off a ball from the far side of the field. The ball made its way inside of the 18-yard box, where Johnston managed to put her tap in past Winthrop goalie Sarah Schippers and into the net for the game-winner.

The opening half of play was controlled by both defenses as Radford outshot the Eagles 6-3 and 2-1 in shots on-goal. The Highlanders also held a 6-2 advantage in corner kicks.

Winthrop’s two best scoring opportunities of the first half came from Lia Gorden and Rachel Webster. Gorden wasted little time trying to put the Eagles ahead in the fifth minute after receiving a chip pass from Courtney Durbin in the middle of the field. The pass from Durbin left Gorden with a one-on-one scoring chance against Radford goalkeeper Che’ Brown, but Gorden’s shot would be saved by Brown. Webster’s shot in the 12^th minute from inside the 18-yard box missed just left of the net. Winthrop had a free kick from 40 yards out on the Highlanders side of the field where Ashley Herndon put the ball into a crowd of players with Webster receiving the deflection.

In the second half the Eagles looked to take the lead again in the 53^rd minute off another free kick opportunity by Herndon. Her ball went into the 18-yard box where it deflected off the head of a Radford defender right to Kelly Clark. Clark’s header from a few yards outside the six-yard box was saved by Brown on a dive.

Mary Wiley tried to net the game-winner for the Highlanders twice in the final 21 minutes of the contest. In the 69^th minute her shot from 11 yards out was saved by Schippers and cleared out by the Winthrop defense. Wiley attempted once more in the 90^th minute of play with another shot from outside the six-yard box, but the shot would go high and right of the net.

Radford finished the contest with a 17-12 lead in shots and 7-4 in shots on-goal. It also led 11-4 over the Eagles in corner kicks.

Clark, Durbin, Krystyna Freda and Allie VandeWater recorded a team-high two shots each for Winthrop, while Schippers had six saves. Wiley led the Highlanders offensively with five shots, and Brown snagged four saves.

The Eagles will be back in action on Thursday, Oct. 20 as they will host the Presbyterian College Blue Hose at Eagle Field. Game time is scheduled for 7 p.m.

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