CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Charlotte head women’s soccer coach John Cullen became the school’s career coaching wins leader as the 49ers pushed their current win streak to three by knocking off Southern Miss 2-1 Sunday afternoon at Transamerica Field.

Cullen picked up career Charlotte victory No. 67, surpassing the program’s first head coach, Robbie Church, who led the Niners from 1994-98.

Charlotte (7-5-1, 4-2 C-USA) needed a goal in each half to dispatch of the Golden Eagles to remain unbeaten in the all-time series, posting seven victories in eight meetings. The 49ers reached the 20-shot barrier for the second-straight game and fourth overall this fall with their 22 attempts.

Momentum swung to Charlotte’s side early with three shots and a trio of corner kicks taken by the home team in the opening eight minutes. Each of the attempts, featuring two from Preseason All-Conference USA choice Amanda Jones and another by freshman sensation Martha Thomas, were blocked by the Southern Miss (5-8-2, 0-4-2 C-USA) defense.

The pressure continued to build against the Golden Eagles cage before sophomore Rebecca Beatty finally broke through the scoring column with her second goal of the season at 27:56. She gathered a loose ball and drilled a 35-yard unassisted strike past goalkeeper Brittany Taylor to give the 49ers the 1-0 lead.

After the two teams traded opportunities, Kay Kay Hypolite sprinted down the left side. She then crossed the ball back to Casey Adkins, who buried a 30-yarder behind netminder Annika McHenry to even the score at 1-1 at the 36:15 mark. Neither team had another shot the remainder of the half, ending the period deadlocked despite an 11-5 shot advantage by the Niners.

Southern Miss came out of the intermission with four shots during the opening 12 minutes, nearly equaling its entire first-half total. The outburst resulted in substitutions for Charlotte and the players responded.

The next 12-minute span witnessed seven attempts towards the USM net with the seventh put away for the second goal. Two short passes between Jones and Thomas landed at the feet of junior Alex Meyers, who sent a low shot just inside the left post to tally the game winner at 69:52. It marks her third career game winner, all against league opponents, and first since her freshman campaign in 2012.

The Golden Eagles never quit, however, as just over two minutes later a long through ball set up a 1v1 breakaway opportunity. Redshirt senior defender Taylor Dulaney raced back and thwarted any legitimate chance, resulting in a corner kick, but not allowing a clean look from the Southern Miss attack.

As the game entered the final minutes, Brooke Hendrix lined up a 25-yard attempt directly in front of the goal mouth. Her shot clanked off the crossbar and the Golden Eagles never had another look.

Charlotte will put a cap on its three-game homestand with a 5 p.m. Saturday meeting with Old Dominion. The 49ers will celebrate Senior Night against the Lady Monarchs, honoring the careers of Dulaney, Jones, Jennifer Lee, Jessica Ryan and Sara Trexler.

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