CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Two second-half goals for Charlotte gave the 49ers a 2-0 home Conference USA victory over UTSA Friday night at Transamerica Field to kick-off Alumni Weekend. At halftime, the Charlotte athletics department retired the jersey of former All-American Hailey Beam (2006-09).

The current group of Niners entered the intermission with their fellow league newcomers scoreless but tallied both goals within a nine-minute stretch of the second stanza to improve to 7-4 on the season and 2-1 in Conference USA.

Freshman Rebecca Beatty registered her first career goal at 62:13 when a pass from sophomore Maddie Kiebel located Beatty at the top of the 18-yard box. Beatty then sent a low shot to the far left post, placing it just inside the bar and past Roadrunners goalkeeper Bubba Makela, the reigning C-USA Defensive Player of the Week.

Preseason league player to watch Amanda Jones then added the insurance goal at 70:48 when her 40-yarder exposed an empty net behind Makela. She joined the rest of her UTSA (2-9-1, 1-1-1 C-USA) defense by pushing forward, but a loose ball along the left side enabled Jones to send an arcing shot high over the back line and into the open cage.

Charlotte had various other chances to find the back of the net, starting with Kiebel’s attempt at 59:12 that was saved by Makela. At 66:22, freshman Ari Reilley appeared to add another score but a Roadrunners defender stepped in front and turned it away inside the six-yard box. Finally, with just under 10 minutes to go at 80:09, redshirt junior Jennifer Lee’s free kick opportunity ricocheted off the right post.

Redshirt sophomore Annika McHenry grabbed four saves in posting the shutout, the team’s sixth of the campaign. Makela finished with three stops.

Jones paced all players with five shots, while Alexis Alaniz and Kauwela Neal topped UTSA with two shots each.

The 49ers return to action at 1 p.m. Sunday when they play host to Middle Tennessee to conclude Alumni Weekend and the first two home Conference USA matches of the season.

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