CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Senior Kyla Clark picked an opportune time to tally her first career, finding the back of the net with just under five minutes to play in regulation, as Charlotte women’s soccer turned back VCU 3-2 in a hard-fought non-conference contest Friday night. The triumph is the third straight for the 49ers, both this fall and in the overall series with the Rams.

Clark made a dash down the right side, where her fellow co-captain Martha Thomas fed her in stride as she entered the 18-yard box. Clark then used her speed to maneuver around a defender before sending her attempt high over the outstretched leap of Audrey Sanderson to the far-side netting for the game winner at 85:09. Clark becomes the second Charlotte (4-3) senior this season, joining Virginia Lingo from last weekend, to net her first career goal.

The strike came barely over a minute after VCU (3-2) had drawn even on a 45-yard score from defender Tori Browne. Browne was barely past the center circle when she sent a hard shot to the left-side netting behind Niners’ netminder Abby Stapleton at the 84:01 mark.

Prior to Clark’s clincher, it appeared as sophomore Julia Grainda would steal the spotlight for the 49ers as she tallied both of Charlotte’s early goals. Her first score came at 33:07 as she beat a Rams defender before shooting high over Sanderson at 33:07 to level the match at 1-1. Julia Suarez had given VCU the initial 1-0 cushion as Julia Suarez collected the ball from a member of the 49ers’ defensive back line and whistled a hard shot from 15 yards away past Stapleton.

Grainda’s second goal opened the second half at 54:16, as she received a pass from Thomas before angling her shot low to the left post, deflecting it in as Charlotte recovered from the early deficit.

Both teams had several other chances, as Thomas placed two solid chances on frame only to be denied by Sanderson. Stapleton, as well, kept the 49ers within striking distance, including a diving stop in the 71st minute that deflected off her finger tips and bounced off the right post before being cleared by a Charlotte defender.

Thomas’ two assists give her 24 in her career, passing Oni Bernard (2008-11) for ninth place in program history. Thomas also now has 100 career points, becoming just the fourth player in school history to reach the century mark.

The All-America candidate remains two goals shy and now four points short of matching the Niners’ all-time records for those respective records. She led all players with five shots on the evening, while Grainda was the only other Charlotte player with multiple attempts, as she finished with three.

Browne paced the Rams with three shots, as well, as the visitors finished with a slim 13-to-12 advantage in the statistical category.

The 49ers return to action at 1 p.m. Sunday when they play host to in-state foe East Carolina in the second of a four-game homestand.

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