CHARLOTTE, N.C. – All-America candidate Martha Thomas worked her magic with a little over five minutes remaining in regulation, as she knocked in the game winner in a second-half come-from-behind 3-2 victory for Charlotte over Florida Atlantic Sunday. The meeting pitted the two programs who squared off in the 2016 Conference USA Championships final last November, also at Transamerica Field, during which the 49ers earned the 4-0 triumph to garner the league’s automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.

Thomas, who shared game-high honors with five attempts, made her last shot count the most as she received a pass from sophomore Julia Grainda into the 18-yard box. With an Owls defender on her back, Thomas placed the ball between her offender’s legs, completed a spin move to break free to poked the ball past goalkeeper Jennifer Ocampo at 84:35.

The score marked No. 10 on the year for Thomas, making her the only player in program history to net double-digit goals in all four seasons. It also was career game-winning goal No. 12 for the Weston, Florida, native, moving her into sole possession of second place on the school’s all-time list. She stands just one shy of matching the 13 clinchers tallied by Whitney Weinraub (2007-10).

Grainda factored in all three of the Charlotte (9-4, 4-1 C-USA) scores Sunday, as the Niners overcame the 2-0 deficit. Her and Thomas first connected on assists at 56:46 when the pair shared passes before a cross sent across the goal mouth to the left side located sophomore Jamie Fankhauser, who put the ball just inside the left post to cut the margin to one, 2-1.

Not even five minutes later, as the 49ers continued to work the ball forward offensively, a Riley Orr corner kick was perfectly placed inside the six-yard box. Megan Greene had the first chance, but her attempt was stonewalled by Ocampo. However, the ball remained loose and Grainda wasted no time in putting it back between the pipes for the tying score at the 61:24 mark.

The furious rally came after Charlotte found itself down a pair when Elisha Holmes recorded back-to-back scores to put Florida Atlantic (7-6-2, 2-3-1 C-USA) in front.

Holmes opened the day’s scoring at 10:39, taking a one-touch Pernille Velta pass 30 yards out and racing into the 18-yard box with possession before being netminder Abby Stapleton for the 1-0 edge. The score would remain the same the rest of the period despite both teams having several opportunities.

With the one-goal cushion, Holmes was on the receiving end of a cross inside the six-yard box in the 53rd minute. Madison Caldwell and Asta Arnadottir played the ball down the left side before the cross was sent into the box. Holmes flicked it off her back heal and behind Stapleton for the 2-0 FAU margin at 52:23.

Charlotte continued to battle despite falling behind and was able to find its breakthrough a short time later, flipping the field in its favor the rest of the game. Sophomore Sophie Sipprell played well, tying Thomas with a career-best five shots, including three on goal.

Stapleton added nine saves, topping her counterpart by three, as both goalies played the full 90 minutes.

The 49ers will look to extend their two-game win streak on the road, starting at 8 p.m. ET Friday in Ruston, Louisiana, against Louisiana Tech. The journey continues at 1 p.m. ET Sunday in Hattiesburg, Mississippi, against Southern Miss.

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