Radford Edges Liberty, 2-1

Team	1	2	Final F
LIBERTY	0	1	1
Radford	1	1	2

LIBERTY

Radford

The Radford Highlanders held off the Liberty Flames for a 2-1 victory, Wednesday evening in a Big South Conference game at Cupp Stadium.

Liberty leading scorer Tresor Mbuyu netted his seventh goal of the season in the contest.

The Flames drop to 1-2 in Big South play and 4-6-1 overall. The Highlanders move to 2-0 on the year and 8-2 overall. Radford entered the week receiving votes in several national polls and was ranked No. 27 by the College Soccer News.

The first half featured tight defense by both teams, as the Highlanders outshot the Flames, 6-2.

Liberty had four corner kicks during the half and got its best scoring opportunity off a corner in the 22^nd minute. Midfielder Kevin Mendoza came free for a shot off the kick, forcing Highlander goalkeeper Aitor Pouseu Blanco to make a save to keep the game scoreless.

Radford netted the contest's first goal during the 27^th minute. Bismark Amofah sent a crossing pass from the midfield to the far left post near the end line. Midfielder Evan Szklenniki tipped the ball into the left corner for his second goal of the season and a 1-0 advantage. The goal was only the second that the Flames have allowed in the opening half, this year.

The second half saw play open up, resulting in several scoring opportunities for both teams.

Pressure in the attacking zone resulted in two shots for the Flames during the 70^th minute. Mbuyu stripped a defender of the ball in the midfield near the 18-yard box and once gaining the top left corner, fired a shot low. Blanco dove out and made a one-handed stop.

Moments later, Liberty worked the ball into the right side of the box for Mbuyu. However, he popped the ball over the net.

Radford extended its lead during the 74^th minute. Off a corner kick, midfielder Fraser Colmer tapped the ball in short to Victor Valls at the right top right corner. Valls turned and scored his second goal of the year, pushing the Highlanders' lead to 2-0.

Liberty cut into the Radford edge during the 77^th minute. Rigo Rojas got the ball at the top of the arch of the 18-yard box and fed a pass into the center for Mbuyu. The Flames' leading scorer ripped a shot into the far right corner of the net, trimming the Highlander lead to one at 2-1.

Liberty looked for the equalizer during the last 12 minutes of regulation. The Flames had an opportunity during the 85^th minute, when they had a corner kick, which Radford cleared. Also, during the final minute, Liberty pushed the ball into the box, only to have a Highlanders defender clear it all the way out to midfield.

Radford held a 15-7 advantage in shots, but shots on goal were even at 5-5. Corner kicks were even at seven apiece.

Liberty goalkeeper Jeremy Lee, making his first start of the year, made three saves in the contest. Blanco recorded four saves during the 90 minutes of play for Radford.

Liberty next travels to Huntington, W.Va., for its last non-conference match of the 2016 regular season. The Flames will square off with the Marshall Thundering Herd.

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Team Stats

Mbuyu Tresor

Rojas Rigo

Mendoza Kevin

Chavez Jovanni