CHARLOTTE, N.C. – The current Charlotte women’s soccer team continued to stake its claim as one of the hottest teams in Conference USA, using a pair of early score to knock off visiting WKU 2-1 Friday evening as the program celebrated its 25th season overall with nearly 40 former players back in attendance at Transamerica Field. The 49ers, who have had a long history of success during their 25 years, celebrated the program’s 25th season and recognized the former players in the crowd during halftime of Friday’s match.

Players dating back to the inaugural campaign in 1994 were back in town, having a chance to meet and greet with more recent players, including a handful which just completed their collegiate careers last fall and graduated from the university in May.

On the field, Charlotte (7-3, 3-0 C-USA) wasted little time in showing why it has now won five of its last six games and remained unbeaten in Conference USA play and at Transamerica Field, this fall. The 49ers struck first in the third minute when junior Riley Orr dribbled down the left side before sending a cross inside the box to classmate Megan Greene. Greene turned and located freshman Annie Sorando, who then buried her attempt from 10 yards out past netminder Bailee Witt for her first collegiate score at 2:43.

The Niners maintained the solid pressure early, and less than five minutes later, they doubled their lead. This time, it came from the other side of the field as freshman Sandra Geiselhart sent a cross over to Greene. Greene then slipped a pass further to the left side between Lady Toppers defenders to junior Sophie Sipprell, who completed her run by slotting the ball between the pipes for a 2-0 advantage at the 7:24 mark.

Not to be outdone, WKU (2-6-2, 0-3 C-USA) took advantage of a 49ers miscue in the defensive third to score its lone tally. After a Lady Toppers corner kick, Charlotte looked to clear the ball out of its own end, but Megan Morris intercepted the clearing opportunity. She collected possession at the top corner of the penalty box and fired a hard shot to the right post for the lone visitors’ goal at 8:26.

Although neither team scored again, they were not without chances. The 49ers had several shots blocked by the WKU defense, preventing them from going near the cage. In the 19th minute, junior Julia Grainda slipped free inside the six-yard box. Her off-balance shot hit the upper 90 of the goal frame, preventing the Niners from increasing their score.

Charlotte’s defense stepped up in the final 45 minutes, preventing the Lady Toppers a shot opportunity as they finished with the five they had at the break. In the 55th minute, junior Jazzin Clark lined up for what appeared to be an open net with Witt out of position after chasing Greene on the left side. Clark’s shot, however, was stonewalled by the WKU defense and it remained a one-goal cushion.

The 49ers piled on 10 attempts overall after the intermission, ending the contest with a 22-to-5 margin on shots, and they forced Witt into seven saves.

Charlotte returns to action at 1 p.m. Sunday when it plays host to Marshall at Transamerica Field.

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