RADFORD, Va.- Shelby Hooe scored her eighth goal of the season, tying her career-high, but Radford scored in the 17th and 55th minute to earn a 2-1 victory over the Gardner-Webb women's soccer team on Wednesday evening at Cupp Stadium.
"Radford is a much better than their record. They are organized and played with urgency tonight and we didn't match their effort," commented Gardner-Webb head coach Mike Varga.
Wednesday's match featured plenty of offense as the two sides combined for 39 shot attempts, including 21 in the second half. Brandi Arey led the way for the Runnin' Bulldogs, attempting a match-high seven shots and Justine Ibarra recorded three shots, while Jessica Wollmann, Jasmine Casarez, and Sammie Shiflette each put three attempts toward the GWU goal.
"We put ourselves in a bit of a hole and I know this group will respond," said Varga. " We weren't ready for tonight and I take full responsibility for that."
Katie McCormick made seven saves to earn her sixth victory of the season for the Highlanders while Keely Brown stopped four shots in defeat for GWU.
The Runnin' Bulldogs pounded the Highlander net early in the first half with three shots in the opening 10 minute, but McCormick wias up to the task, stopping all three shots to keep the game scoreless.
Radford would come right back and take a 1-0 lead on a goal by Shiflette in the 17th minute, and the Highlanders held the one goal advantage heading into halftime.
Just under 10 minutes into the second half, Radford had a shot blocked by a GWU defender, but Ana Revollo corralled the rebounded and passed it to Wollman who scored on the open net to double the Radford lead 2-0.
Gardner-Webb responded less than a minute later when Arey passed it to Hooe at the top of the box, and the senior forward fired a shot into the upper right hand corner of the net for her eighth goal of the season.
Radford outshot GWU 12-9 in the second half and would go on for the 2-1 victory.
Gardner-Webb returns to action Saturday, when it takes on Liberty at 3:00 p.m.
