RADFORD, VA -- Top seeded Elon held off No. 4 Radford 2-1 in women's soccer action from the Dedmon Center Stadium on the campus of Radford University Friday evening to advance to the championship game tomorrow night. The Phoenix will play the winner of the Liberty/Charleston Southern game that is scheduled for a 7:30 p.m. kick-off tonight.
Elon, who received a bye in the first round, came out of the gate looking like the rested team and No. 1 seed striking first at the 10:19 mark. Elizabeth Jones tallied the Phoenix goal finding the back of the net just inside the left post making it 1-0 and taking that advantage into the half.
It was a tale of two half's as Radford would come out of the break and carry the play. The Highlanders would receive a great offensive push from their forwards and midfielders making it look like they were the team that received the first round bye.
Just when it looked like the Highlanders had the Phoenix back on their heals and would be able to get the equalizer, the Highlanders defense got caught up field and allowed Elon midfielder Jessica Mills some open field to work with. Mills would draw the defense to her and dump the ball off to forward Kate Schabo who would break in alone on Highlander keeper Samantha Wood. Wood would make a good play to come out to challenge Schabo who chipped the ball over a charging Wood and put Elon up 2-0 at the 76:40 mark.
However the Highlanders would not give up continuing their offensive push which paid off wen senior Kelly Quisenberry would gather in a Elon pass that missed the mark and sneak behind the defense and blast it to the far left post to pull the Highlanders within one, 2-1.
Radford would have several quality bids to even the score as Mandy Dietrich's blast from 20 yards out was deflected wide by Phoenix keeper Summer Cork. On the ensuing corner kick Highlander midfielder Jevne Reid's bid to bend it in far post just missed the upper corner thus ruining the Highlanders bid at a second conference tournament title in two seasons.
Elon advances to the championship game tomorrow night looking to repeat as BSC tournament champions.
--ELON--
