NOTE: The game between Radford and High Point, originally scheduled for Tuesday, Nov. 3, will be played Monday, Nov. 2 at Cupp Stadium. Kick-off remains at 7 p.m.
-------
RADFORD - Following a turnaround of fortunes for the Radford men’s soccer team, the Highlanders were hit with a nine-day break. That ends Friday night when Elon comes to Cupp Stadium for a non-conference matchup at 7 p.m.
The pre-break turnaround has been five goals in the last two games, a milestone in a season that went from the school’s longest scoreless streak, to three against Virginia Tech, to scoreless again versus UNC Asheville before breaking through against first-place Winthrop and VMI.
“We continue to create better chances, and if we do that, goals will come,” head coach Spencer Smith said before the break.
It’s also about playing a more organized style, and for Smith and the Highlanders (4-6-2), they got some leadership back with the return of senior back Daryn Patricio to the lineup.
“Having him back has been a difference,” Smith said. “He understands the game and he’s the quarterback out there for us, so to speak.
“He directs players, tells guys where to go, what to do. Daryn gets us organized, and that’s been a big reason for our success.”
While Patricio helps the Highlanders clean up their game, the dirty work in front of the goal has come courtesy of junior midfielder James Leith.
“Goals don’t come from 20 yards out, they come from 6 yards out,” Smith said. “James understands that as well as anyone, and he’s getting himself into better scoring positions and chances are coming. Plus, very few midfielders around out-work him, so the success is a combination of both of those things.”
Since the Virginia Tech game, Leith has scored three times in the last four games to take the team’s scoring lead (3g, 6pts).
Radford welcomes an Elon (7-6-1) team to town that’s fresh off a 4-0 thumping of Winthrop on Tuesday night. The Eagles, now the eighth-rated team in the NSCAA/adidas South Atlantic Region rankings, tied Radford 2-2 on Oct. 17.
The Phoenix and Radford have met each season since 1998 and the Highlanders own an 8-4-1 series advantage.