Play It Again Sports Radford Va

First Highlander Drafted in Major League Soccer

Past Jordan Childress

Jo Vetle Rimstad '17 made Radford University men's soccer history as the Harestua, Norway native was selected past the D.C. United with the 43rd overall selection in the 2017 Major League Soccer SuperDraft.

Rimstad becomes the first Highlander drafted into Major League Soccer (MLS) in program history and volition bring together Dante Washington as the only two Highlanders to don an MLS jersey.

"I just couldn't be happier correct at present. D.C. United is the perfect club for me, equally I have a lot of friends in the area," Rimstad noted. "It seemed that well-nigh Radford students were United fans, so I at present accept the hazard to stand for them when I put on the black and scarlet."

Rimstad was named a National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) All-American and Scholar All-American. Rimstad became the second Highlander in program history to exist named an NSCAA All- American during the Division I era. In improver to his All-American honors, Rimstad earned the fourth NSCAA All-South Region First Squad honor in program history. The accolade was the third of Rimstad'south career from the NSCAA — he earned 2nd-team honors in 2014 and 2015.

"Our Academy, alumni and soccer program are incredibly proud of Jo Vetle. He had an outstanding iv years at Radford, both on and off the field," said former head coach Marc Reeves. "He now gets the run a risk to represent Radford positively and bring great exposure to the schoolhouse. He is a fantastic person who is fully deserving of this opportunity."

Rimstad finished his career as 1 of the all-time heart backs in Radford University and Large South history. In 2016, Rimstad became the second Highlander in programme history to exist named Big Due south Defensive Thespian of the Year. Rimstad earned All-Big South honors in each of his four collegiate years, earning first-squad honors three times.

"Reevo [Reeves] sent me a text bulletin to tell me I was going to be drafted, I just couldn't believe it," Rimstad added. "This is what I have been working for. I never imagined being put in this state of affairs, considering I have been enjoying playing soccer for the longest time. I have been working difficult for a very long fourth dimension, and information technology has finally paid off."

The five-time Large Southward Defensive Histrion of the Week honoree aided Radford Academy to 31 shutouts in his career, including 18 in the last 2 years. Radford University matched a plan-record ten shutouts during the 2016 season.

Rimstad did nada but win since he arrived on campus in 2013. The Highlanders compiled a 49-xx-11 record over the span, including a 24-4-5 record inside Cupp Stadium. Radford won iii Large Due south regular-season championships, one Big S Tournament title and made two NCAA Tournament appearances during the span.

"Jo Vetle understands that it requires continued true hard piece of work to pursue the goal of being a professional, and he has certainly earned the correct to be drafted," Reeves added. "Nosotros are thankful for D.C. United for assertive in him and wish Jo Vetle the very best."

Rimstad will join former Highlander Ryan Taylor in the D.C. United organization. Taylor is a member of the Richmond Kickers, the United's affiliate in the United Soccer League.

Jen Falconer, on the ground, and Jayda Worthy, standing higher up, celebrate.

Broken records, immense wins and heartbreak summarize the 2016-17 Radford University women'southward basketball game season. The Highlanders strung together one of the all-time seasons in program history while providing the Radford University true-blue countless memories.

Dropping no more than two games in a row throughout the season, the Radford University team concluded its magical season with a 24-9 record, finishing with the 2d-most wins in plan history. Only the 1988-89 squad won more than games, compiling a 25-7 record. In Big South Conference play, Radford University finished with a 14-4 record for the second most briefing wins in the team's history.

"This season was a historical and memorable season in a lot of ways," said quaternary-year head coach Mike McGuire. "This team demonstrated a tremendous amount of try, focus and consistency to win those 24 games."

Racking upwards the wins on the flooring, Radford University as well racked up its first Big South regular season title in 25 years, defeating Campbell with a thrilling 49-48 win on Feb. 27. The stout Highlander defense held off a late fourth-quarter comeback as Campbell's game-winning endeavour rimmed out at the buzzer.

Equally the last horn sounded, 12 faces summarized the journeying to the regular flavour crown. Emotions of joy, relief and disbelief were on full brandish as the Highlanders hoisted their first regular season trophy since the 1991-92 season.

Developing the nickname "Cardiac Kids" midway through the season, the Highlanders played in nine games decided by 3 points or less, with five coming in the last vii games of the season. The Highlanders compiled a vii-2 record in those games, which may be due to the calm demeanor of McGuire. During McGuire's tenure, Radford University is 21-11 in games decided past five points or less.

Providing fans with suspenseful games all season long, Radford University's lockdown defense was a major part of the season's success. The Highlander defense finished the flavor ranked inside the Top 15 nationally in two defensive categories. Property opponents to a mere 55.0 points per game, Radford University ranked as the tenth best defense in the country. The Highlanders ranked 11th with a 35.1 field goal pct defence.

"The growth we made as a programme and as individuals is something that we are extremely proud of," McGuire added.

Individually, Radford University placed four players on All-Big S squads. Sophomore Destinee Walker and junior Jayda Worthy earned a spot on the first team, while junior Janayla White was named to the honorable mention squad and Khiana Johnson on the all-freshman team.

Walker led the team with 13.ix points per game (ppg), 2.iii assists per game (apg) and 1.five steals per game (spg). The sophomore finished third in the Large South Histrion of the Year voting subsequently averaging xiv.2 ppg in league games while shooting 45.two pct from the floor.

Tallying half-dozen double-doubles on the flavour, Worthy averaged 11.9 ppg and 7.1 rebounds per game (rpg). The junior crossed the 800-point (898), 500-rebound (566) plateau on the flavour. In Big South play, Worthy was clutch, averaging 13.2 ppg and 8.3 rpg.

Proving that the motto "Information technology's not how yous start, it'due south how yous finish" holds true value, White tallied double figures in 9 of Radford University's final xi games on the season. In that stretch, White collected five double-doubles, giving her 8 total.

Johnson earned herself a spot on the all-freshman team after providing Radford Academy with a spark off the demote all season long. She averaged 7.4 ppg and one.6 apg while leading the team with an 80.8 free throw percentage.

After taking the job four years ago and going 7-23 in his first season, McGuire was unsure of how long it would take for his title-winning program vision to come up to fruition. McGuire has increased the program'south win totals from 7 in his first season to 17, xviii and 24 over the terminal 3 seasons. Since that vii-23 season in 2013-14, McGuire has compiled a 57-36 record.

Women'due south Basketball game Head Coach Mike McGuire, centre rear, celebrates with his team and staff.

The program even collected its 700th win on Feb. 21, condign only the second program in Big South history to win 700 games.

"When I accepted this position iv years agone, we envisioned the women's basketball program competing for Big Due south championships and postseason appearances consistently," McGuire noted. "Our current team has raised the bar for our programme again and has made our vision a reality."

That vision apace became a reality during the Big South Tournament Championships as the Highlanders found themselves in a tournament title game for the offset time since 2008. Radford Academy'south path to the championship game came with, of course, 2 3-point victories and two defensive stops.

Radford University's defense forced a turnover with seconds remaining for a 54-51 quarterfinal win over Gardner-Webb. In a 53-50 decision over Charleston Southern in the semifinals, Worthy blocked a game-tying iii-pointer.

The two wins sent Radford University into a championship game matchup with the defending tournament champions in UNC-Asheville. The two foes previously played a unmarried and double overtime contest in the regular season.

Radford University jumped out to an early lead and led for 37:06, before going cold in the final 5 minutes of the game as UNC-Asheville went on an 8-0 run to accept a 49-48 lead with less than five seconds remaining.

After Highlanders' timeout, Walker got the ball at the top of the central and drove the correct side of the lane. Her shot was blocked and the ball went to White on the other side of the basket, but her attempt as the buzzer sounded missed short off the glass.

Heartbroken is the only discussion to describe that feeling, simply determination will be the give-and-take heading into the upcoming season.

Seconds away from making its first NCAA Tournament advent since 1996, Radford University received a consolation for its efforts on the flavour, earning an automatic bid into the WNIT Tournament equally a result of winning the regular flavour championship. The WNIT Tournament appearance is the seventh postseason appearance in program history and the 2d of the McGuire era.

"The entire 2016-17 season along with the Big South Regular Flavor Championship volition only motivate us to prepare with even more detail and focus on the upcoming flavor," McGuire said.

Going by the squad motto, "All Gas, No Brake," Radford University fans will be in shop for another thrilling ride starting in November.

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Source: https://www.radford.edu/content/radford-magazine/home/summer-2017/athletics.html

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