PITTSBURGH, PA –  Charles Rodriguez scores the game-winning goal in dramatic fashion as the Charlotte 49ers (7-4-0, A-10: 2-0) defeated Duquesne (4-5-2, A-10: 0-2), 2-1, in overtime for their fourth straight win. Donnie Smith scored the 49ers first goal which marked the third straight game that he has scored a goal.

“This was a fantastic road win,” Charlotte coach Jeremy Gunn said. “This was a very hard earned and hard fought victory by our team. It was a very physical game. It was just a great college soccer game played by two quality teams. Our team showed an incredible fighting spirit. We looked fit and strong which helped us at the end of the game.”

Smith scored his third goal of the season when he took a pass from Justin Tucker and put the ball in the upper right corner of the goal from 20 yards out in the 4th minute.

Then, the next shot taking in the game resulted in a goal by Duquesne’s Cory Bachstein. Duquesne’s Jamie Waugh passed the ball to Bachstein who tied the score at one when his shot from 15 yards out found the back of the net in the 10th minute.

For the remainder of the first half, Charlotte’s Andres Cuero, T.J. Beaulieu, Aidan Kirkbride, Jennings Rex, Rodriguez and Smith took shots but their shots were either blocked, stopped or went wide of the goal.

In the second half, the 49ers had a 7-4 advantage in shots and a 5-0 advantage in corner kicks. Beaulieu, Cuero, Rodriguez, Smith took shots in the second half for the 49ers.

“We played tremendous attacking soccer today,” Gunn said. “We put Duquesne under a great deal of pressure.”

The overtime period began with each team taking a shot. Then, Charlotte’s Smith takes a dangerous corner kick that bounced around the box. Rodriguez corralled the ball and blasted the game-winning goal into the back of the net from 12 yards out in the 98th minute. Rodriguez’s goal was his first of the season and the third of his career.

“It was an emphatic finish,” Gunn said. “For Charles to be able to take a ball that drops at his feet in a crowd then turn and score was just incredible.”

Charlotte returns to the road at George Washington and Richmond next weekend, October 15-17.