Lexington, Va. -- Sophomore Lindsey Pendergraph (Woodbridge, Va.) and freshman Brianna Kipper (Gloucester, Va.) each had two goals as Radford handed VMI an 8-0 Big South Conference loss Wednesday afternoon at Patchin Field. It was the third straight victory for the Highlanders as they improve to 7-3 overall and 2-0 in the Conference. It also marked the largest Big South win in school history. The previous record was a 7-0 defeat of Liberty in 1994, the second season of Big South play.
Junior forward Jonita Hooker (Woodbridge, Va.) extended her 10-game scoring streak with a second half goal, breaking the school record previously held by Sue Williams and Missy Gaitka. During the streak, she has scored six goals and four assists.
Junior Erin Cozza’s (Woodbridge, Va.) header off junior Sarah Rutherford's (Richmond, Va.) corner kick in the second minute of the game began the scoring for the Highlanders and was followed in the eleventh minute by the first of Pendergraph’s goals. assisted by senior Erin Crane (Midlothian, Va.).
Kipper and Pendergraph then scored back-to-back unassisted goals in the 35th and 38th minutes, before sophomore Lisa Channon (Oxford, England) and red-shirt senior Debbie Leach (Olney, Md.) finished off the Highlanders’ first-half scoring. It was Kipper's first collegiate goal.
Thirteen minutes into the second half, junior forward Jonita Hooker (Woodbridge, Va.) extended her scoring streak, when her shot hit the bottom of the crossbar and sneaked over the goal line. Freshman Megan Horan (Roanoke, Va.) record her first collegiate assist on the play. Kipper added the final goal in the 61st minute on an assist by senior Jamie Branson (Sterling, Va.).
The game saw the end of a pair of streaks for senior Nikki Porter (Maryville, Tenn.). Porter had previously had a point in every game this season, and had scored a goal in each of the Highlanders' last six matches.
Three Radford keepers combined to shutout VMI (0-9, 0-3 Big South), as sophomore Lauren Bergsten (Blacksburg, Va.), sophomore Annaliese Yoder (Mohrsville, Pa.) and freshman Minta Trivette (Bristol, Va.) each saw time in net for the Highlanders. Jessica Rheinlander made six saves in the game for the Keydets.
Radford heads back to Patrick D. Cupp Memorial Stadium this weekend for homecoming. They will host Coastal Carolina and Birmingham-Southern on Saturday and Sunday in key Big South Conference matches. Kickoff is a 2 p.m. for each contest.
box score
