Michael Shroyer/SPPSTech midfielder Scott Dillie sends a shot high against Radford keeper Ryan Taylor. The Hokies fired seven shots on goal and eleven shots total.
Click here for a photo gallery from the match.
Freshman midfielder Hunter Cheatham scored the game-winning goal in the 90th minute to propel the Hokies to victory.
"It was an exciting game," head coach Oliver Weiss said. "We finally played well. Radford is definitely a formidable opponent. We kept our momentum and I think we got better as the second half went on. I think it just took us 10 games to realize who can play and who cannot play."
Cheatham started the first match of his collegiate career and came into the game with just one shot recorded this season. He had two shots on goal against Radford.
"I was a little nervous about him getting a bit fatigued at the end," Weiss said. "He had not been the best in shape. I asked him though, 'Do you want to come back in?' and he said 'Yes.'"
Along with Cheatham, senior defender Taylor Walsh, freshman forward Emmanuel Akogyeram and junior forward Brendan Dunn all had two shots for the Hokies.
Cheatham's goal proved to be the difference-maker because of the solid goalkeeping of freshman Thomas St. Germain who also made his first collegiate career start between the pipes for the Hokies and had seven saves on the night.
"He didn't cause any issues," Weiss said of St. Germain. "He didn't give up goals or chances. He just did his job and kept the ball out of the net. There wasn't really a great shot he had to save tonight because of our great defending. We had not had a game this year where a goalkeeper came in and just did a fantastic job for 90 minutes."
St. Germain was matched by Radford freshman goalkeeper Ryan Taylor who also played his first collegiate career minutes for the Highlanders, getting the starting nod over regular goalkeeper senior Zach Roszel. Taylor kept the Hokie shooters in check most of the night and had six saves in the match.
"Their regular goalkeeper (Roszel) was a little injured so they kept him out," Weiss said. "I think he had a very solid effort though. He stayed on the line and saved the ball when it needed to be saved."
Including Caulfield, Akogyeram and St. Germain, Weiss started five freshmen on the night, citing that they need more experience.
"Everybody is nervous but we're 10 games into the season," Weiss said. "We've trained for two months now so we're a little more accustomed to how we do things."
Senior defender Taylor Walsh had to wait much longer than Cheatham and St. Germain as he also made his first start for the Hokies. Walsh had seen action in six previous games this year after not seeing any minutes his first two seasons on the team. He was credited an assist.
"I think he was the brightest star of all tonight," Weiss said. "He held the backline together very well."
Walsh filled in for freshman defender Tobias Hottner who did not play because of Lyme disease.
Tech did have some golden opportunities to score on the night. In the 65th minute, senior midfielder Scott Dillie headed a ball from eight feet out that barely missed the opposition's goal.
The Hokies committed 15 fouls whereas Radford committed six. Sophomore midfielder Clarke Bentley was the victim of an illegal tackle from Radford midfielder Brendan Shaffer who in turn received a yellow card.
Radford forward Iyiola Awosika looked to untie the game in the 82nd minute as he broke away from Hokie defenders and had a clear shot on St. Germain, but the freshman was able to deflect the shot from 15 feet out.
The Highlanders outshot the Hokies 14-11 in the game.
"I still don't think I've found my starting 11," Weiss said. "I am seeing more fire and intensity with these guys though. I think it's just a matter of trusting that these young kids can do it. We have a lot more tests that we can throw at these guys this season. I think if some of the older guys accept their roles of coming off the bench, we can really grow as a team."
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