RADFORD, Va. (Sept. 13, 2026) - If chances won matches, ETSU would have beaten Radford by a football score. Instead, they had to settle for a futbol score, and a vexing one at that.
Despite a lopsided shot count, the ETSU women's soccer team played Radford to a 1-1 draw in Radford on Sunday night in their non-conference finale. Reagan Fitzgerald scored in the 76th minute to erase an early deficit for the Buccaneers (3-3-1).
The Highlanders (2-5-1) got on the board almost right away. After a free kick was awarded 20 yards out in line with the top of the box, Ciaira Anderson curled a right footed shot over everyone and tucked it in under the crossbar to put the hosts ahead 81 seconds into proceedings.
The goal was also their last quality chance to score.
The Bucs' best chance of the first half came in the 31st minute, when a failed clearance landed at the feet of Sadie Commerford 25 yards from goal on the left wing. She put her right foot through a curling shot that forced Radford 'keeper Lexi Radvanyi into a leaping save to swipe the ball over the crossbar.
ETSU went on the attack almost immediately in the second half when an attempt at an Olimpico by Ava Duffey off a corner kick in the 47th was parried away by Radvanyi at the near post and a subsequent shot by Caroline Wawak skittered wide left, the first pair of what was ultimately a dozen second-half shots.
They finally got their equalizer in the 76th. A routine punt up the field by Wawak was flicked forward off a header by Jada Cooper into the path of Fitzgerald in a full sprint. With a defender draped on her right shoulder, she launched a shot off the inside of her left boot that sailed past Radvanyi for her third goal this season and first since August 30.
The Bucs had a crack at the win in the 81st when Kassie Estep sprung Alex Beck free down the left side, but Beck's shot from a tight angle kissed the top of the crossbar and bounced harmlessly out of play. Commerford had a shot blocked on a scramble inside the box after a corner in the 86th, and the Bucs were turned away by the Highlanders defense for the remaining four minutes to seal the draw.
ETSU outshot Radford 21-7, with seven shots on goal to three. Fitzgerald and Commerford had four shot attempts each, and Fitzgerald led all players with three shots on goal.
The Bucs will regroup to host Mercer in their SoCon opener on Thursday at 6 p.m. Admission is free at Summers-Taylor Stadium.
For more information on ETSU women's soccer, go to ETSUBucs.com.
