CB Soccer Academy will be holding a College I.D. Camp on Sunday, Jan. 28 at Radford University’s Cupp Stadium.
“This camp will be a great opportunity for all aspiring college players to experience a Division 1 training environment for the day,” said head coach Chris Barrett. “Campers will be exposed to Division 1 level training sessions while being able to get a feel for our beautiful campus and first-class soccer facilities. Campers will also have ample time to interact with current Radford players to learn from their experiences as well.”
The camp is open to male soccer players ages 14 and above, and will have a $150 registration fee.
RU Athletics tops GPA
The 298 student-athletes that make up Radford University Athletics earned an overall department grade point average (GPA) of 3.49 during the Fall 2023 semester to, once again, affirm the Highlanders commitment to academic excellence.
Fifteen of Radford’s 16 athletics programs earned a 3.0 GPA or better, with 84% percent of all student-athletes earning a 3.0+ GPA as well. The Highlanders also boasted 67% of all student-athletes earning a 3.4+ GPA and 25% reaching a perfect 4.0 GPA.
“We are so proud of the work that our student-athletes put into their academics here at Radford,” said Associate Athletics Director for Student-Athlete Services Allison McCoy. “The grades earned this fall continue to show a steadfast commitment to reaching the high bar we have set for ourselves in the classroom.”
The softball program, led by Head Coach Alisa Tasler, led all programs with a combined 3.81 GPA. Eleven out of 23 softball student-athletes earned a perfect 4.0 GPA.
Radford’s tennis program led all men’s teams with a 3.59 GPA while the men’s golf team was just behind them with a 3.49 GPA of their own.
Big South Sasser Cup standings
The Big South Conference revealed a first look at the 2023-24 Sasser Cup standings on Wednesday, with the Radford Highlanders checking in at third overall, averaging 6.20 points.
In the women’s all-sports standings Radford is currently in second place averaging 7.17 points thanks to high finishes by women’s soccer (10.0), women’s cross country (7.0). For the men’s all-sports standings, Radford currently sits in fifth averaging 4.75 points led by men’s cross country’s (6.0) strong finish at the conference championships.
Radford women’s soccer became the departments’ highest point-earner thanks to a second consecutive and ninth overall Big South Championship
The women’s and men’s cross country programs also had another great fall season to contribute to the Highlanders’ standing. The women’s cross country team placed third at the Big South Championship while the men’s cross country team crossed the finish line in fourth.
The Sasser Cup Trophy is named for former Big South Commissioner Buddy Sasser (1989-96) and is awarded to the Big South member institution with the most successful year athletically, based on an average points system. Points are awarded for both regular-season and tournament finishes in each of the League’s 19 championships, and the average of the combined total is used to determine the overall point allocation in the respective sport.
Highlanders honored in soccer
The United Soccer Coaches announced their Division I women’s all-regional teams this week and two Highlanders were featured on the all-southeast region including Alexeis Kirnos and Helena Willson. The duo are the first Highlanders to appear on the list since 2019 when Nelia Perez, Gabi Paupst and Kayla Thomas earned the honor.
Kirnos, who was named to the second team all-southeast, appears on the list for the first time in her career. After an impressive conclusion to her Highlander career highlighted by her third Big South Tournament championship, the first Highlander to ever do so, Kirnos picks up one more award for her trophy case. The graduate was excellent once again for the Highlanders with four goals and six assists, both totals second-most on the squad. At the end of the season she was named to the Big South’s first team all-conference. The Woodbridge native finishes her career with 17 goals, 21 assists and seven game-winners in 74 career starts.
Willson, who was named to the third team all-southeast, appears on the list for the first time in her career. The senior campaign was more of the same for Willson, excellence. At the beginning of the season she was named the preseason Defensive Player of the Year for the Big South and lived fully up to those expectation by winning the end-of-the-year award by the same name. She led the Highlanders defensive back line starting in all 20 matches totaling 1,741 minutes finishing the year with three goals and an assist. Willson played the full 90 minutes in 17 of 20 games helping the Highlanders’ defense total seven shutouts and held the top-seeded Clemson scoreless for 55 minutes in the NCAA Tournament First Round.
A total of 33 players were named to this year’s All-Southeast regional teams featuring some of the greatest players currently playing in collegiate soccer.
Staff report
