Charlotte women beat St. Joseph's

PHILADELPHIA, PA - The 25th-ranked Charlotte 49ers women’s soccer team (15-2-1, A-10: 9-0-1) behind three unanswered goals rallied for a 3-1 win at Saint Joseph’s (7-8-3, A-10: 4-5-1) to extend their unbeaten streak against A-10 foes to 26 games. Whitney Bryant, Whitney Weinraub and Hailey Beam scored goals for the 49ers. Beam’s goal was her 36th career goal which tied Courtney Cook’s school record.

"We showed good composure and belief in our game to turn it around," Charlotte coach John Cullen said. "We struggled at first to adapt to the field but once we got into a rhythm we started moving the ball better. I told the players at halftime we needed to play with more urgency and with better ball movement. We definitely showed better teamwork in the second half to secure another good win on the road."

Saint Joseph’s took the lead when Taylor Carr scored on a goal just inside the left post in the 19th minute.

Bryant tied the score when she knocked a shot into the goal from the left side of the field in the 35th minute. Bryant’s goal was her first of the season and the third of her career.

"Whitney Bryant scored her first goal of the season on her 21st birthday," Cullen said.

Weinraub gave the 49ers the lead for good when she blasted a shot into the net from 16 yards out in the 66th minute. Weinraub’s goal was her 13th goal of the season and her sixth game-winning goal of the year. Weinraub’s goal was her 31st career goal which moved her into a tie with Jill Currie for third on the 49ers career goals scored list.

"Whitney Weinraub showed why she is the league’s leading goal scorer with fantastic game-winning goal," Cullen said.

Beam scored her school-record tying 36th career goal when she blasted a free kick from 18 yards out over several Saint Joseph’s defender’s heads into the top right corner of the goal in the 79th minute. Beam’s goal was her 10th of the season. With two goals this weekend, Beam also passed Cook to become the 49ers all-time leader in points with 103.

"Hailey Beam showed why she is our leader stepping up and securing the win with a quality free kick," Cullen said.

Charlotte finished the game with an 8-4 advantage in shots and a 3-1 advantage in corner kicks. Weinraub led all players with two shots. While, Beam, Bryant, Oni Bernard, Sam Huecker, Heather Carter and Jonna Handra each recorded a shot for the 49ers.

The 49ers return to action when they battle Saint Louis on the road in their final regular-season game, Friday, October 30 at 8 pm.