Smith’s Header Gives Radford First Big South Win

RADFORD, Va.--Sophomore Jonathan Smith put a diving header into the net to lift Radford men’s soccer over Coastal Carolina 2-1 at Patrick D. Cupp Memorial Stadium Wednesday night. The win is RU’s first Big South Conference victory of the season. (Box Score)

The Highlanders improved to 3-3-3 overall and 1-2-1 in Big South play. Coastal, who had been ranked as high as 12th in national polls earlier this season, fell to 7-5 overall and 1-3 in Conference.

Smith broke a 1-1 tie late in the second half, diving to head the ball on a serve from junior Romain Maudire at the 67:34 mark. It was Smith’s first goal of the season and the second of his career.

Junior Patrick Colas put the Highlanders on the board in the first half, scoring his sixth goal of the season on a feed through the box from junior Armando Romero. Colas blasted a shot past CCU’s keeper to give RU a 1-0 lead at 15:50.

The Chanticleers responded with an unassisted goal from senior Mubarike Chisoni. Chisoni rolled around a Radford defender with the ball to get open, then fired a one-timer at the 43:16 mark to tie the game at one heading into halftime.

An offensive battle, the two teams took a total of 49 shots, with Coastal holding a 23-16 edge. The Highlanders nearly had an insurance goal late in the second half from Colas, who again found the back of the net, but he was ruled offsides.

RU’s junior goalkeeper Omar Zinoveev made 12 saves while CCU keeper freshman Aaron Weant stopped eight Highlander shots. CCU held a large edge in corner kicks, taking 12 to Radford’s two. The Highs were whistled for 19 fouls while the Chants recorded 18 in the physical match.

Radford will face High Point on Saturday in the second of a three-game Conference home stand for the Highlanders. The match, which will be a part of the homecoming festivities, beings at 7:00 pm. The Chanticleers will take almost a week off before hosting Wake Forest next Tuesday at 7:00 pm.