The Shadow
RADFORD, Va. – Despite a strong performance by goalkeeper Lexi Radvanyi, the Radford Highlanders women’s soccer team came up short in a 2-0 loss to Charlotte on Sunday evening at Cupp Stadium.
KEY STATS
- Radvanyi tied her career-high with 10 saves in the match, equaling the number of saves she made in a 1-0 win over USC Upstate back on Oct. 4, 2025.
- Radford managed to keep the contest tied at 0-0 through the first half.
- The 49ers dominated most of the offensive categories, including shots (25-5), shots on goal (12-3), and corner kicks (4-3).
- Senior Ava Kertgate led Radford with two shots and a shot on goal. Lilly Clayton and Katie Purnell also added looks on net.
- Radford falls to 0-4 all-time against Charlotte.
PLAY BY PLAY
The start of the game was highlighted by an early stoppage, as Radford’s Hope Ku-Dipietro and Charlotte’s Sorcha Melia collided while both going for a header (Ku-Dipietro was called for the foul). The pair left the game due to injury, and Ku-Dipietro was able to return in the second half after receiving treatment and stitches.
After the early stoppage, it was the 49ers who turned up the pressure. Radvanyi made her first save of the game in the sixth minute, and took care of another 18 minutes in. The Big South Preseason Goalkeeper of the Year added a spectacular save just before the first half hydration break, diving across to stop a shot and keep the contest tied. Clayton managed to put Radford’s first shot on goal just past midway through the first half but was easily saved. A host of subs near the end of the first half brought some fresh legs on for Radford, but it was Charlotte who held the advantage in the first 45 with 13 shots to Radford’s three.
Radvanyi was feeling the pressure to start the second half, making a great save to punch the ball over the crossbar in the 51st minute. However, Charlotte would break through a few minutes later, as some nice passes found Kathleen Ngulefac, who put it away for the go-ahead goal in the 53rd minute. Just three minutes later, Charlotte added a second goal which withstood a review for offsides. Radford got one corner kick and Kertgate recorded a shot on goal, but it was all 49ers in the 2-0 win.
SOHRABI QUOTABLE
“(I give) a lot of credit to Charlotte,” head coach Ben Sohrabi added postgame. “They’re a really good team. They play in a really good conference. As far as the game goes, I felt that it was a good experience for us. We got challenged today and we learned a lot of lessons. I think playing against good opponents will make us better in the long run.”
UP NEXT
The Highlanders hit the road for the first time in the young season with a match set against the 2025 Ohio Valley Conference Champs and Southern Conference newcomers in Tennessee Tech. Kickoff from the Volunteer State is set for 8:00 p.m. ET (7:00 p.m. CT) on ESPN+.
