Charlotte men lose to UAB

BIRMINGHAM, AL –  Charlotte’s Tyler Gibson scored his second goal of the season but UAB (2-1) rallied with two unanswered goals for a 2-1 overtime victory over the Charlotte 49ers (1-2).

          Early in the first half, Charlotte’s Gibson, Andres Cuero, Evan James and Aidan Kirkbride each had scoring chances. But their shots were either stopped by UAB keeper Carl Waszczynski or went wide of the goal.

          Gibson scored his second goal of the season when he blasted an Evan James pass into the lower right corner of the goal in the 27th minute for the game’s first goal.

          Jennings Rex and Kirkbride each had shots over the next 15 minutes.

          Then, UAB’s Victor Sambade tied the game at 1 when he scored off an Anthony King assist in the 43rd minute.

          In the second half, T.J. Beaulieu, Donnie Smith, Gibson, Kirkbride and Rex each took shots but they were either high or stopped by UAB’s Waszczynski.

          UAB’s Babayele Sodade scored the game-winning goal on a penalty kick in overtime in the 97th minute.

          Charlotte finished the game with a 13-10 advantage in shots. Gibson, Rex and Kirkbride each tallied three shots apiece.

          The 49ers conclude play in the UAB “Soccer For A Cure’ Tournament when they face former Conference USA rival Memphis, Saturday, September 11 at 6 pm.