GREEENSBORO, N.C. – Pedro Ribeiro, Sergio Camargo and Agust Arnarson each scored as No. 12 Coastal Carolina overcame a two-goal second half deficit to defeat Radford 3-2 in the semifinal round of the Big South Men’s Soccer Championship at Bryan Park in Greensboro, N.C. The victory sends the Chanticleers to Sunday’s championship match where they will face the winner of Liberty and Longwood at 2 p.m.

The championship match, will air live on ESPN3 at 2 p.m., will be the Chanticleers’ second straight and third in the past four years.

After trailing 1-0 at the half and falling behind 2-nil 25 seconds into the second half, the Chanticleers (16-4-0) refused to relent and battled back over the final 44 minutes to complete their first multi-goal comeback of the season.

Radford, who ends its season with a 9-7-4 record, scored the game’s opening goal in the 33rd minute as Bernaldo Ulmo converted a penalty kick. Ulmo’s penalty opportunity was set up when a Joe Mayer was fouled in the box while chasing a through ball from the midfield.

Three minutes later, Kevin Le Bras had a prime opportunity to level the score as he sprung free beind the Radford defense after a Justin White throw in. However, the freshman’s shot attempt toward the near post went just wide. Jakub Stourac found a clean shot from 10-yard out at the 37:57 mark, but his shot struck the post and bounced harmlessly away.

Radford took the 1-nil score into the intermission despite being outshot 13-5 by the Chants.

The Highlanders put another score on the board in the first minute of the second half to push its lead to 2-0.  Luis Grande collected the ball and played a cross through the box that found the foot of Mayer who sent a one-timer into the lower left corner.

Coastal Carolina answered back in the 58th minute to cut the lead to 2-1. Arnarson collected the ball inside the 18 and sent a pass over to Big South Attacking Player of the Year Ribeiro.  Rebeiro turned and blasted his shot inside the far post from 13 yards out. The goal tied Ribeiro for the CCU team-lead with 11 on the campaign.

The Chanticleers evened the score at 2-2 in the 73rd minute.  Big South Defensive Player of the Shawn McLaws touched a deflected service into the box back to a hard-charging Sergio Camargo who one-timed the ball into the upper right corner. Camargo has netted three goals in the past two games.

Coastal Carolina found the game-winner in the 82nd minute to give the Chanticleers the 3-2 win. Kai Morton played a through ball into the box that was collected by Arnarson.  Anrnason took advantage of the one-on-one opportunity with the keeper and shot the ball to the far post.

Ribero led Coastal Carolina with three shots on frame, while Radford’s Ulmo finished the match with a pair of shots on goal.  As a team Coastal Carolina held the advantage on shots at 22 to Radford’s 10 total shots. 

Coastal’s Devin Cook finished the match with two saves.  For the Highlanders, Dane Wilson turned away three Chanticleer attacks.