FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – WOMEN’S SOCCER

Saturday, October 15, 2011

JOHNSTON GOLDEN GOAL LIFTS RADFORD WOMEN’S SOCCER PAST WINTHROP, 1-0

RADFORD, Va. – Kathryn Johnston (Fairfax, Va./Robinson Secondary) scored with 34 seconds remaining in the first overtime to lift Radford to a 1-0 win over Winthrop in a matchup of the Big South’s top two teams on Saturday afternoon at Cupp Stadium.

The shutout victory gives the Highlanders (11-3, 6-0 Big South) their sixth consecutive to begin conference play, a first in Big South history.  Che’ Brown (Manassas Park, Va./Manassas Park) made four saves for Radford.

With time winding down in the first overtime period, Johnston found a loose ball inside the penalty box and made her way through a crowd to the goal line, knocking it in from tight to give Radford the win.

Winthrop (8-6, 4-2) had scoring opportunities to start the second half.  In the 53rd minute, Rachel Webster had a chance at the back post from four yards out, but the ball went off the side netting.  Two minutes later, Courtney Durbin’s header from in close hit off the crossbar, keeping the match scoreless.

Both goalkeepers were tested in the first half.  Brown was forced to make a save in the fifth minute when Durbin’s through ball found Lia Gorden on the near post, but Gorden’s shot from six yards out was stopped.  Winthrop goalkeeper Sara Schippers stopped Radford’s Julie Ruh’e (Monrovia, Md./Urbana) in the 34th minute on a point-blank chance from inside the goal box.

Schippers made 6 saves in the loss.

Radford outshot Winthrop 17-12 – shots were even in the second half at 9-9.

Radford’s 6-0 conference start matches the effort of the 1999 team, which began the season with the same streak.

The Highlanders return to action on Thursday night for “Senior Night” against defending league champion High Point at 7 p.m.  Winthrop returns home to face Presbyterian College on Thursday at 7 p.m.

 - www.RadfordAthletics.com -

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