CULLOWHEE, N.C. – Junior Jessica Ryan found the back of the net for the first time in her career and it proved to be the difference Sunday afternoon, as the Charlotte women’s soccer team captured a 1-0 road victory at Western Carolina in Cullowhee, N.C. It kept the Niners unbeaten in three tries all-time against the in-state foe.

Ryan tallied the unassisted score at 57:15 to improve the 49ers’ record to 4-1 this fall. All four victories have been one-goal decisions.

Helping stonewall the Catamounts Sunday was senior goalkeeper Alex Kubrick, who posted seven saves for her third shutout of the campaign and 15^th of her career. Kubrick preserved the clean sheet by collecting a header from Markie Studnicky with just 40 seconds left in regulation.

Sophomore Maddie Kiebel paced Charlotte with four shots, placing three on goal. Both of Ryan’s shots were on frame, while redshirt freshman Nicole Anderson was credited with one shot on goal among her two attempts.

Studnicky, Kimberly Sullivan, Sara Robinson and Caitlyn Bradham had two shots apiece for Western Carolina (3-2) with Studnicky and Sullivan’s pair each being on goal.

The 49ers will return to the friendly confines of Transamerica Field for their next two matches, both on upcoming Fridays. The first of the two-match stretch begins this Friday when Charlotte plays host to James Madison. It will be the first meeting between the two schools in the Queen City since the 2002 NCAA Tournament First Round. The Niners recorded a 1-0 overtime win over the Dukes last fall.