Charlotte women defeat Rhode Island

CHARLOTTE, NC - The Charlotte 49ers women’s soccer team (9-2, A-10: 3-0) behind goals from Hailey Beam, Oni Bernard, Lena Suarez and Whitney Weinraub and a stout defense blanked Rhode Island (3-6-1, A-10: 1-2), 4-0, at Transamerica Field. The victory was the 49ers 19th straight against Atlantic 10 competition.

“I was very pleased with our performance tonight,” Charlotte coach John Cullen said. “We had four different players score goals which is great. I felt that we really possessed the ball tonight and controlled the pace of play.”

Beam scored the game’s first goal when she headed in a Sam Huecker corner kick in the 7th minute. Beam’s goal was her 32nd career goal which moved her past Jill Currie (1997-00) into sole possession of second place on the 49ers career goals scoring list.

Bernard made the score 2-0 when she took a beautiful through pass from Jonna Handra and beat Rhode Island’s keeper Tara Murphy with a shot into the lower left corner of the goal in the 13th minute. Bernard’s goal was her second of the season.

Suarez scored the 49ers third goal when she took a cross from Bernard and blasted the ball into the back of the net from 20 yards out in the 72nd minute. Suarez’s goal was her second of the season.

Weinraub took a pass from Suarez and beat Rhode Island’s keeper Murphy with a scoring shot in the 78th minute. Weinraub’s goal was her team-leading ninth of the season and the 27th goal of her career which moved her into a tie for sixth place on the 49ers all-time goal scoring list.

The 49ers defense behind the play of starting goalkeeper Lauren Brown and starting defenders Whitney Bryant, Megan Minnix, Katie Davies and Danielle Mayeaux recorded their second straight shutout and their seventh shutout of the season.

 “Our defense was awesome tonight,” Charlotte goalkeeper Lauren Brown said. “We did not allow Rhode Island many good looks at the goal.”

Charlotte returns to action when they host A-10 foe Massachusetts, Sunday, October 4 at 1 pm.