KINGPORT, R.I. - In the opening round of the Atlantic 10 Championship, the Charlotte 49ers men's soccer team (11-3-5) tied Rhode Island (9-8-2), 1-1, but fell in penalty kicks to the Rams 4-3, who advanced to the semifinals. The 18th ranked 49ers scored first in the game and led at halftime, but allowed a second half goal that tied the game in the 67th minute.
 
Rhode Island now advances to face No. 2 seed Saint Louis in the semifinals, while Charlotte who came into the game ranked No. 23 in the RPI will have to hope for an at-large bid for the NCAA Tournament.
 
An Evan James goal in the 11th minute gave Charlotte the early lead over the Rams. A deflection off a Rhode Island defender sent the ball to the far post and the 49ers to a 1-0 lead in the quarterfinal match. The goal was James' seventh of the season, which is second on the team behind senior midfielder Adam Gross' eight goals.
 
The 49ers took their 1-0 lead to halftime and held a 10-4 advantage in shots over the Rams. Rhode Island goalkeeper Chris Pennock saved eight Charlotte shots in the first half to keep the 49er lead to only one.
 
"We continued to create chances in the first half and we were very close to scoring again, but their keeper made some brilliant saves," head coach Jeremy Gunn said.
 
The Rams tied the match in the 67th minute, when Alexis Veith connected on a Neili Ruotsalainen cross from the right side, which Veith redirected towards the far post to knot the game at one.
 
Both teams were unable to register another goal in the game with the match going into overtime. Charlotte had previously played in four overtime games this season and posted a 1-0-3 record in those matches.
 
Neither team could muster a goal in the two overtime sessions and the game went to penalty kicks to decide, who would advance to the next round. Unfortunately for the Niners, Rhode Island came away with the advantage in penalty kicks, 4-3, to advance to the next round.
 
Charlotte had several goal-scoring opportunities in the game, but Rhode Island was able to manage saves to prevent the Niners from registering their second goal of the match. After his goal in the first half, James nearly scored again as he beat the keeper in a one-on-one situation, but a Rams defender retreated to the goal line to sweep the ball away before it crossed the line.
 
Later in the game, Andres Cuero was in a breakaway against Rhode Island's Pennock, but Pennock made a brilliant save stopping the ball and preventing another 49er goal.
 
"I couldn't have been happier with our play," stated Gunn. "We credit Rhode Island because we had them on the ropes for the majority of the game but they kept fighting and were able to advance to the next round."
In penalty kicks, Rhode Island outshot the Niners and Pennock came away with a save to put the advantage in the Rams' favor.
 
Charlotte's fate will be decided on Monday, when the NCAA Men's Tournament Selection Committee will release the bracket for the tournament.