Highlanders Rally for 2-2 Draw at UNC Asheville

Asheville, N.C. -- Radford (8-4-1, 3-1-1 Big South) erased an early 2-0 deficit to earn a 2-2 draw with first place UNC Asheville (7-5-2, 4-0-2) in Big South women's soccer action from Greenwood field. Falling behind 2-0 after a pair of goals by Stephanie Feltis in the first 23 minutes, the Highlanders used a late goal in each half to pull out the draw.

The tie moves the Highlanders into a tie for second (10 points) in the Conference with Birmingham-Southern, while the Bulldogs remained undefeated and atop the standings with 14 points.

Feltis scored her first career goal at the 16:17 mark on a pass from Hilary McKay. McKay fed her the ball about 10 yards from the box and Feltis quickly put it in the back of the net for a 1-0 Asheville lead.

Seven minutes later, Joy Haynes sent a pass to Feltis in the box and this time she scored from five yards out to give the Bulldogs a 2-0 margin at 23:36.

It stayed that way until Radford struck at the 38:53 mark. Senior Debbie Leach (Olney, Md.) drove a shot from 20 yards out just over Asheville goalkeeper Mich Mattos’ arms to cut the lead to 2-1. Freshman Brianna Kipper (Hayes, Va.) was credited with the assist on the goal.

It stayed 2-1 in the second half as the both teams traded good chances to score. The Bulldogs just missed making it 3-1 when a McKay shot went wide. Radford countered and got the tying goal. Senior Nikki Porter (Maryville, Tenn.) took a shot from 20 yards out that bounced off the cross bar. It bounced right to junior Jonita Hooker (Woodbridge, Va.) who slid it into the goal to knot the match at 2-2.

The assist by Porter, her team-leading fifth of the year, moves her into a tie for fourth with 21 career assists. It also moves her to within one point of becoming just the third Highlander to reach the 100-point plateau.

Neither team came close to scoring in the two overtime periods as the match ended tied at 2-2. It marked the second straight year the teams played to a 2-2 tie.

Radford's next match will be Sunday, when they host Old Dominion at 1 p.m.

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