The Radford University women’s soccer team, pictured above, received its 2019 Big South Tournament Championship rings at a surprise ceremony held at Cupp Stadium Monday afternoon.
The ceremony started with head coach Ben Sohrabi reliving the big moments of the season and the conference tournament. After that, Director of Athletics Robert Lineburg spoke to the team briefly. Then, each player received her championship ring.
In 2019, the Highlanders won a program-tying record of 16 games for the second consecutive season. The season also marked the second time in program history the Highlanders won back-to-back Big South Tournament titles.
Radford went 7-3 in conference play but touted an even more impressive 8-1 record inside Cupp Stadium. The Highlanders closed out the 2019 regular season by winning three of the last four matches. Two of the three Big South losses came to Longwood and Campbell. Radford drew Longwood in the first round of the Big South Tournament and then faced Campbell in the semifinals.
Three unanswered goals propelled the Highlanders past the Camels, 3-2 in one of the greatest comebacks in program history. An upset on the other side of the bracket placed Gardner-Webb against Radford in the championship game.
A second half surge gave Radford a 2-1 win over the Runnin’ Bulldogs for the Highlanders’ seventh Big South title.
The team went on to face Virginia in the NCAA Tournament in what was the eighth NCAA Tournament appearance in Radford women’s soccer history.
—RU Athletics