FARMVILLE, Va. -- Julie Ruh’e scored the lone goal of the match with just over 10 minutes remaining to lead Radford University to a 1-0 Big South Conference women’s soccer victory at Longwood University on Saturday night at the Athletics Complex in Farmville.  Sydney Golden had the assist on the second half goal for the visiting Highlanders (8-1-1, 4-0 Big South), while Che’ Brown made six saves for the shutout against the host Lancers (4-6-2, 3-1 Big South).  Longwood will host Big South opponent High Point University on Wednesday night, October 9 at 7 p.m. at the Athletics Complex in Farmville.
    
“That was everything we expected it to be,” said 20th-year head coach Todd Dyer ‘93.  “We were a lot better in the second half, but against good teams, we really have to put in a full 90.  That goal we gave up is a tough way to lose, but we can’t complain too much because we didn’t earn one for ourselves, and we certainly had our chances.  Radford is back-to-back Big South Champions for a reason and we’ll just have to keep working at it until we figure them out.”
    
Longwood and Radford entered the match as the only unbeaten teams in the Big South through three contests, and battled scoreless through the opening 45 minutes as the Highlanders took a 6-3 advantage in shots at the intermission, though it was only a 3-1 edge in shots on goal.  Graduate student and keeper Shelby Hall/Purcellville stopped all three attempts on target, including the best opportunity by RU at 28:10 from close range by Sahar Aflaki.  Senior Chelsea Walter/South Riding took a free kick at 16:26 that Brown, last year’s conference Defensive Player of the Year, saved, while the Lancers’ best scoring chance in the first half might have been a header sent wide right by junior Kelsey McDonald/Kennett Square, Pennsylvania at 19:18.
    
Longwood came out pressuring to begin the second half and quickly took five shots in the first 10:28, including three on goal that Brown was able to save -- two by senior Kelsey Pardue/Richmond from inside the box and a header by junior Samantha Phillips/Chesapeake from a corner kick opportunity.  Neither team really threatened again until the 80th minute when Radford had back-to-back shots that Hall stopped, before Rhu’e got free on a pass from Golden and scored the game-winning goal at 79:38.  The Lancers had one final chance on a free kick from just outside the box by Pardue at 84:43, but Brown again made the stop.
    
Longwood and Radford each had 10 shots, and it was 6-6 in attempts on goal, while the Lancers led 8-4 on corner kicks.   Pardue had three shots, each on goal, and McDonald had two shots.  Hall played the duration in front of the net with five saves.
    
Aflaki had two shots, each on goal for Radford, and Brittney Kendall had two shots, one on goal.  Brown played the duration for the Highlanders with the six saves and the shutout.  RU will host Liberty on Oct. 9 at 4 p.m.
    
Longwood and RU were meeting for the 11th time in the sport of women’s soccer, and the series is tied, 5-5-1.

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