Radford University women’s soccer player Courtenay Kaplan had nine saves in goal last week against Longwood.
Sophomore goalkeeper Courtenay Kaplan was stout in goal, but a difficult stretch of results continues as the Radford women’s soccer team suffers a 2-0 loss to Longwood at the Longwood Athletics Complex Wednesday night.
The loss drops the Highlanders to 8-6-0 overall including a 1-5-0 mark against Big South opposition while the Lancers improve their impressive record to 9-4-2 with a 4-1-1 mark in conference play.
Kaplan was far and away the Highlanders’ stand-out in the game, matching her career-high of nine saves in the face of a dangerous Longwood attack. The performance equals her previous best of nine saves, which she made in Radford’s 1-0 defeat to College of Charleston on September 18th, 2016.
The Lancers did manage to get past Kaplan twice on the night, however. The first came in the 58th minute when sophomore defender Taylor Alvey scored her first career goal after collecting a lose ball in the box.
Sophomore forward Emilie Kupsov then doubled the lead in the 75th minute, sending a hard-hit strike from distance just inside the far post, beyond the reach of Kaplan.
Good looks on goal were tough to come by, but the Highlanders’ best chance of the match came in the 52nd minute. Sophomore forward Nelia Perez took full advantage of her speed on a powerful run down the right flank and sent a low-driven cross in front of goal, but junior forward Jessica Wollmann was just barely late arriving to the ball and the chance passed without harm.
Wollmann, alongside freshman defender Alex Struder, led the Highlanders with two shots apiece.
Cassidy Ratliff’s inclusion in the starting lineup represents the first starting nod for the senior forward or any member of the Radford senior class this season.
With her shot attempt tonight, junior midfielder Jasmine Casarez is now tied for 10th in single-season program history for shot attempts with 70.
No Radford player played the full 90 minutes for the first time this season as Head Coach Ben Sohrabi utilized his bench following three straight overtime games.
Sophomore defender Allyson Giannone was subbed off for the first time this season after playing every minute of every game (1207 minutes) up to that point.
Senior goalkeeper Maddie Malueg was subbed on for Kaplan in the 75th minute. It was her first appearance in a match since 2015.
Longwood held a 25-to-9 advantage in shots and a 12-4 advantage in shots on goal. Four of Radford’s nine shots were put on frame, forcing four saves by Longwood’s Maria Kirby.
Wednesday night marks only the second time in 2017 the Highlanders have been held to single-digit shot attempts.
Longwood now has eight shutouts in 15 matches this season.
The Highlanders return home for a Saturday night match-up with Big South-foe Presbyterian. The game is slated for a 7 p.m. start on Saturday, October 14.
A Senior Day ceremony is scheduled to take place just before the game. Radford’s senior class includes Gabby Brannon, Maddie Malueg, Katie McCormick, Cassidy Ratliff and McKensey Ziegler.
–RU Athletics
