Highlanders Down Catawba, 3-1

Radford, Va. -- Radford got their four-game homestand off to a good start, scoring three second half goals to defeat Catawba in a non-conference field hockey match from Dedmon Center Field this afternoon. With the victory, the Highlanders snapped a three-game skid and improved to 6-9 on the year. The Lady Indians fell to 1-14.

Radford controlled much of the play in the first half with eight shots and six short corners, but were unable to find the back of the cage as the teams went into the half scoreless. Catawba’s Lauren Weitzel stopped four of those shots, while RU’s Stacy Saunders (Suffolk, Va.) stopped one of the two Lady Indian shots.

Radford continued to press on the offensive end and it finally paid off at 42:47 scoring on a short corner. Sophomore Meredith Evans (Virginia Beach, Va.) flicked home a rebound over Weitzel after a shot by senior Jenny Bell (Virginia Beach, Va.). Just 1:29 later, junior Hope Bates (Haddam, Conn.) made it 2-0 on another short corner, redirecting a shot by senior Angela Feindt (Hartwood, Va.) to the left of the cage for her team leading sixth goal of the season.

The Lady Indians made it a one-goal game with 8:30 to go as she took care of a loose ball in front and found the back of the cage. Radford wasted little time regaining its two-goal cushion, scoring just 49 second later. Senior Marie Petran (Norfolk, Va.) gave the Highs some breathing room, taking a short cross from freshman Megan Longtain (Culpeper, Va.), who made a nice run into the circle, and one-timing it from in close.

Radford finished the match out shooting Catawba 21-3 and holding a 14-1 advantage in short corners. Weitzel finished with 10 saves for the Lady Indians. Feindt led the Highlanders with six shots.

The Highlanders return to Dedmon Center Field on Monday and Tuesday to host NorPac rival Saint Louis in a battle for first in the East Division. Radford (3-0 NorPac) holds a slim half-game-lead over the Billikens (3-1). Both matches begin a 1 p.m.

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