CHARLOTTE, N.C. – A season-high 31 shots, the most in over three years, and two goals in each period carried the Charlotte women’s soccer program to a 4-0 blanking of local foe Winthrop Wednesday night at Transamerica Field. The contest, the 49ers’ first home game of the campaign, was the first in the series between the two schools.

Charlotte’s 31 shots are its most since firing 30 against FGCU Aug. 26, 2011, and tie for the sixth highest in school history, matching the output against Mercer Sept. 15, 1996. The Niners’ four goals are a season best and nearly equal the team’s total coming in, which was five through the opening five games of the campaign.

Charlotte (2-3-1) quickly established an offensive push with four shots in the first 6:36, while three corner kicks were also taken on the Eagles’ side of the field. The third set piece opportunity by Preseason All-Conference USA selection Amanda Jones, at 7:17, witnessed the 49ers taking advantage when her swing kick found the head of freshman Martha Thomas, who redirected the ball past goalkeeper Amelia Henderson a second later at 7:18.

Over the next 15 minutes, Winthrop (2-3) seized chances on its offensive third, as it registered five shots, but none were placed between the pipes as the Niners’ starting netminder, Annika McHenry, came away with two saves, including a diving stop on a Grace Radler attempt in the 22nd minute.

With the defense holding strong, it was time for the Charlotte offense to go back to work and in the 24th minute, it did. Sophomore Rebecca Beatty intercepted a clearing attempt by the Eagles’ backline and blasted a shot from 25 yards out, tucking it just inside the right post for her first score of the year and pushing the 49ers’ lead to 2-0 at 23:38.

It would remain a two-goal difference at the half, as Charlotte managed just two more attempts down the stretch.

The second period started much the same as the first, with three 49ers’ shots in the opening 10:10 of the half. At 56:26, Charlotte increased its edge to 3-0 following a counter started in the back. Freshman Justine Lockman sent a long through ball along the right flank to Thomas, who then crossed it to sophomore Perri Bonner, who tallied her third score of the year from 18 yards out with an attempt to the right side.

The offensive push never relented, and at 62:01, the 49ers added another mark in the scoring column. Junior Tori Fubara, a 2013 All-Conference USA All-Academic Second Team honoree, sent a cross to a wide-open Thomas, who placed a solid foot on her shot from 15 yards away and had no trouble putting it behind Henderson for her second of the night and team-leading fourth of the season.

All in all, 22 field players and two goalkeepers saw action for the Niners on the evening, including freshmen home debuts for Thomas, Clough, Shea Dwyer, Virginia Lingo, Lockman and Kyla Clark. Reserve goalkeeper Alex Weaver, a redshirt sophomore, also saw her first action at Transamerica Field after her minutes last year came on the road.

Twenty-one of Charlotte’s 31 shots were placed on goal. Thomas led all players with seven, five on frame, while Jones added five. Twelve different 49ers had attempts, including a pair from 2013 All-Conference USA Freshman Team honoree Nicole Anderson who was making her season debut against Winthrop.

The Eagles were led by Krystyna Freda’s four shots. Henderson stopped 10 shots to pace all goalkeepers, while her replacement, Caroline Duncan, had six in the final 18:23.

McHenry finished with two saves, while Weaver had one stop, a point-blank attempt from Courtney Boger at 80:44.

Charlotte will return to its familiar home turf for a 6 p.m. Sunday match against cross-county foe Davidson. The 49ers own an 11-5-2 all-time series advantage over the Wildcats, including a 6-2 ledger at home.

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