CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Charlotte women’s soccer hung with visiting No. 16 South Carolina for a half before the nationally-ranked Gamecocks pulled away after halftime for a 4-1 victory Monday evening at Transamerica Field.

The 49ers were able to manage the bulk of their offense during the first 45 minutes of action, including netting their only goal, but could not overcome an early deficit.

Charlotte (4-2) tallied its lone score of the match at 13:20 following corner kick situation. The swing kick volleyed around in the air after the service by junior Kaitlin Walker. The high volley eventually landed on the head of freshman Ellie Deaver, who redirected it past starting USC goalkeeper Caroline Kelly for her first collegiate score. 

Deaver becomes the eighth different 49ers player to score this season, eclipsing the seven who found the back of the net in all of 2014.

Unfortunately for Charlotte, the goal came after South Carolina (5-1) had already claimed a 2-0 edge on its first two attempts. The first, at 2:12, came when Chelsea Drennan sent a through ball onto Savannah McCaskill. McCaskill then retained possession during a long run before sent her shot home from 12 yards out behind the Niners’ Annika McHenry.

Just over three minutes later, Kaleigh Kurtz’s long throw-in towards the six-yard box landed at the feet of Dominique Babbitt, who turned and fired for the goal at the 5:30 mark.

Despite trailing in the match, Charlotte continued to push forward but was thwarted by the Gamecocks defensive back line.

South Carolina regained strong possession in the early stages of the final period and was able to swell its lead to two, 3-1, when Drennan and McCaskill connected for a second time. Drennan sent a left cross onto a streaking McCaskill, whose sliding shot was buried past McHenry at 53:38.

The match’s final goal was 15 minutes later, at 68:24, when Babbitt’s through ball was corralled by Daija Griffin. After just a few strides, Griffin was free to shoot over the outstretch McHenry to decide the final outcome.

Preseason All-Conference USA pick Martha Thomas had the best Charlotte chances in the second stanza, with seven minutes left in regulation, as she had back-to-back attempts denied. Her first shot was blocked before her second was saved by relief netminder Abby Crider.

Thomas topped all players with four shots, while Deaver added two and freshman Megan McCallister chipped in with one to round out the 49ers’ effort.

McCaskill, Babbitt and Stevi Parker all paced USC with three attempts apiece.

Charlotte will look to get back on the winning side at 5:30 p.m. Friday when it plays host to former Conference USA foe USF in another 49ers soccer doubleheader. The contest will be broadcast throughout Mecklenburg, Union and Iredell Counties via an athletic department partnership with UNC Charlotte Cable Television. It will reach over 500,000 Time Warner Cable and AT&T UVerse subscribers in the Charlotte region.

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