CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Junior transfer Katie O’Neill netted her first goal of the season and it could not have come at a more crucial time, as it lifted Charlotte to a 3-2 come-from-behind victory over Gardner-Webb Friday night. The match was delayed for nearly two hours due to lightning in the area.

O’Neill, who ranks second on the team with 19 shots, finally was able to knock in her first 49ers score at the 80:37 mark. Senior Loren Reilley swung a corner kick into the six-yard box, where it landed at O’Neill’s feet on the far post, where she stood only two feet from the goal line and poked it just inside the frame for the game winner.

Her goal came as Charlotte (4-1) found itself down a score midway through the final period. The Runnin’ Bulldogs had claimed their first lead, 2-1, at 65:57 when Justine Ibarra buried a free kick from 22 yards out to the left post.

The Niners then continued to push forward and were able to draw a Gardner-Webb (1-3-1) foul inside the 18-yard box. Sophomore Martha Thomas, who tickled the twine for the fifth time in five matches earlier, stepped to the penalty spot for her second career penalty kick attempt. She had no trouble putting the shot past the Runnin’ Bulldogs’ Keely Brown for the equalizer at 72:34.

Thomas, who finished with a game-high six shots, including four on goal, tallied her first score at 9:58 when she raced across the top of the 18-yard box and skipped a low shot behind Brown while fending off numerous Gardner-Webb defenders.

Ibarra set up Brandi Arey for the first tying score later in the opening frame with a pass forward. Arey’s hard shot banked off the left post and into the net at 33:01.

Both teams had numerous chances with both goalkeepers coming up with key stops. The 49ers’ Annika McHenry finished with a season-best nine saves, while Brown posted six for the visitors. Shortly after Arey’s goal, Thomas slipped in for a shot but banked it off the post; unfortunately, no Charlotte players were in the area for the finish.

Thomas’ two-goal performance was her first of the season and fourth of her career. She is already more than halfway to her total from a year ago when she recorded 11.

Freshman Megan McCallister had an attempt only 16 seconds into the second half but it was knocked down by a Runnin’ Bulldogs defender and away from any harm.

The 49ers will continue their season-best four-game homestand at 5:30 p.m. Monday when they play host to No. 16 South Carolina. It will be the first match of a Charlotte soccer doubleheader, as the Niners’ men’s program will play host to Gardner-Webb at 8 p.m.

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