CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Preseason Conference USA Offensive Player of the Year Martha Thomas scored her first game winner of the season, and it came with just over two minutes left in the second overtime, to lift Charlotte to a 3-2 come-from-behind victory over UTSA Sunday afternoon.

Thomas tallied her fourth score of the weekend and her second-straight multi-goal match at 107:43 as she knocked in a free kick pass from freshman Riley Orr at the top of the 18-yard box past the Roadrunners' Michelle Cole. It gave Thomas her eighth career multi-goal scoring game and extended her career goals total to 31, tying her with Jill Currie (1997-2000) on the program's all-time list.

“I think you saw a team that learned from Friday how disappointing it is to lose a heartbreaker,” head coach John Cullen said. “We weren’t at our best today but I think we dug deep to find a level of resiliency and hang in there, even when you’re not playing well – that’s the sign of a good team.”

Thomas had entered the scoresheet earlier in the day, at 17:11, to draw the 49ers even at 1-1. The goal was set up by a long service from near the midfield from senior Rebecca Beatty to freshman Julia Grainda. Grainda possessed the ball for a few steps before crossing it back over to Thomas, who was standing in the middle of the field just inside the 18-yard box for the shot.

UTSA (5-7, 1-2 C-USA) had claimed an early 1-0 lead behind a Brianna Livecchi goal at 5:50. She received a pass ahead from Kaja Skare before running through a pair of Niners defenders and placing her shot between the pipes.

The Roadrunners were able to tack on another score late in the period, just before the halftime horn, to enter the intermission ahead, 2-1. Melissa Finley sent a free kick into the six-yard box, where Sarah Gribbon was able to redirect it past netminder Anna Shelden at 43:44 for the goal.

Charlotte (7-5, 3-1 C-USA) came out in the second half with renewed enthusiasm and pushed forward early and often. Finally, at the 63:56 mark, the 49ers were able to crack the UTSA defense leading to a corner kick opportunity. Orr lined up for the kick, sending it high into the 18-yard box. Classmate Megan Greene, as she has done throughout the campaign, soared above the opposition and headed it behind Cole for the game-tying score and her team-leading eighth goal of the season.

“[Orr] is very good. If we have something that can deliver a free kick or a corner kick like her, we got some players in there that will challenge and create havoc. We have players in there to get on the end of it. Her free kicks are a weapon.”

“Her delivery of the ball is fantastic,” Thomas said of Orr. “You don’t see many left-footed in-swinging crosses so it’s great that we have them.”

The Niners continued to look for chances, while limiting the Roadrunners defensively. UTSA was held to only five shots the entire match, and only one attempt in the extra time, while Charlotte was able to rattle off 13 shots.

Thomas continues to add to her career totals in other categories, including 196 shots to surpass Amanda Jones (2011-14) for third all-time in school history. She needs only four more to tie the program mark of 200, set by Currie and Whitney Weinraub (2007-10).

Thomas also has 71 points in her career, one shy of equaling Courtney Crandell (2002-03) for eighth on the all-time list.

One-half of her eight career multi-goal scoring games have come against Conference USA opponents. It marks the second time in which she has registered the feat in consecutive matches.

The 49ers will hit the road for one match next weekend, taking on Florida Atlantic in Boca Raton, Florida, next Sunday at 1 p.m.

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