CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Charlotte battled back from another early deficit to take the lead but visiting East Carolina found the winning touch late in the second overtime to come away with a 3-2 win Sunday afternoon at Transamerica Field. The 49ers, trailing 1-0 early and into halftime, started the second period with more urgency and were able to tally both of their goals in the stanza’s first 15 minutes. The comeback started when Preseason All-Conference USA performer Martha Thomas made a strong run to inside the 18-yard box, where she drew a foul on a Pirates defender. Thomas, awarded the penalty kick after the infraction, put the ball away for the equalizer at 52:34. She is a perfect 3-of-3 from the penalty spot in 2015. Keeping the pressure forward, sophomore Virginia Lingo fired a shot that clanged off the crossbar. Her shot carried back over netminder Saundra Baron’s head onto a charging Thomas, who one-touched it into the net for her second multi-goal scoring match of the season at 57:56. Thomas’ second score raises her season total to eight, just three shy of her entire freshman year effort. Unfortunately for Charlotte (4-4), its two goals came after ECU had taken a 1-0 lead at 5:32. Jenna Geist sent a slip pass to Lana Spitler, who dribbled through the defense and fired a low shot to the far post. The Pirates then found their tying goal at 78:10 when the two factors in opening score reversed roles. Spitler dumped a pass behind her to Geist, who then placed her attempt between the pipes from eight yards away to knot the scoring at 2-2. Both sides have a variety of chances throughout regulation but both Baron and the 49ers’ Annika McHenry stood tall with multiple saves efforts. Midway through the first extra frame, Charlotte had a solid scoring opportunity with freshman Emily Truelove in behind the defense. Truelove’s shot towards an open net sailed wide. As the second overtime clock ticked down, East Carolina (4-3-1) had one last look at the goal frame on a corner kick chance. McHenry was drawn away from her end line on Kendall Frey’s swing kick, where Stephanie Seagrave found herself with possession and poked the ball in from a short distance for the winner at 109:57. Thomas paced the Niners with six shots, including three on goal, while Spitler topped all players with a dozen attempts, including eight on goal. McHenry grabbed a season-best 10 saves, two shy of her career-high effort set against Marshall Oct. 3, 2014. The 49ers will look to regroup when they wrap up the non-conference slate at 6 p.m. Sunday at Elon in Elon, N.C. The time changed from the originally scheduled 2 p.m. start.