Liberty University
9-7, 5-2
Radford
7-7, 5-3
| Team | 1 | 2 | Final F |
|---|---|---|---|
| RAD | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Liberty | 1 | 1 | 2 |
Liberty Extends Winning Streak to 3 with 2-0 Win over Radford
10/19/2016 12:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer
The Liberty Lady Flames recorded their third consecutive shutout, downing the Radford Highlanders, 2-0, Wednesday afternoon in a Big South Conference match at Osborne Stadium.
Devon Jones netted a goal early in the first half and Isabella Habuda scored a goal early in the second half for Liberty.
Winners of three straight and five out of its last six, Liberty moves to 5-2 in Big South Conference play and 9-7 overall. Radford drops to 5-3 in conference and 7-7 overall.
Liberty goalkeeper Holly Van Noord made seven saves to notch her fifth shutout of the season and 38th of her career, extending her own Liberty and Big South record.
With today's clean sheet, the Lady Flames have not allowed a goal during their last 313:57 of play. It was Liberty's sixth team shutout of the season.
Establishing control of play early, the Lady Flames capitalized on Highlanders' turnover to take a 1-0 advantage during the match's seventh minute. Forward Gabrielle Farrell stole the ball from a Radford defender and ripped a shot from the top, left corner of the 18-yard box, hitting the far right post. Jones pounced on the deflection in front of the net and tucked the rebound into the open net for her fourth goal of the year and a Liberty lead.
The Lady Flames continued to push their attack, forcing several saves from Highlanders goalkeeper Courtenay Kaplan during the early part of the first half.
During the 29th minute, Radford received a rare indirect kick opportunity inside the penalty area. Jordan Lundin took the short feed from Hannah Duff off the restart and got her 15-yard shot past the Lady Flames' wall toward the right post, but Liberty's Van Noord dove out and tipped it wide.
A shot by Liberty midfielder Caroline Boone hit the post during the 40th minute. Farrell's shot off the rebound was blocked in front, but the deflection caromed to Habuda, whose shot sailed over the goal.
Habuda increased the Liberty lead during the opening minutes of the second half. During the 57th minute, Jones stripped a Radford player of the ball at midfield and sent it ahead into space. Habuda broke behind the Highlanders' line of defense and ran onto the ball. Gaining the box and finding herself one-on-one with Highlanders' keeper Kaplan, she lined her team-leading seventh goal of the season into the lower left corner of the goal to give the Lady Flames what proved to be the final score of 2-0.
Off the restart, Liberty forced a turnover during the 58th minute. Pushing the ball forward, the Lady Flames' attack found midfielder Jennifer Knoebel for a shot from the right side of the field. The shot carried through the box towards the left post, where a Highlander defender raced back and cleared the ball out from in front of the net to prevent Liberty from stretching its lead.
Liberty controlled play during the final 20 minutes to capture the victory.
The host Lady Flames outshot the Highlanders, 20 to eight, while holding an 8-7 advantage on shots on goal. Radford held a 6-4 edge in corner kicks.
Kaplan made five saves for the Highlanders. Radford also had one team save.
Liberty will next host the UNC Asheville Bulldogs in its final home match of the regular season, Saturday. Match time is scheduled for 11:30 a.m. at Osborne Stadium. Before the game, three Lady Flames playing in their last regular season home game will be honored as part of Senior Day ceremonies.
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Team Stats
JONES, Devon (4)
Assisted By: FARRELL, Gabrielle
*rebound of shot off post to 10 for put
6:56
HABUDA, Isabella (7)
Assisted By: JONES, Devon
dribbled from midfield into box - 1v1 ke
56:49
