Charlotte men beat Clemson

CHARLOTTE, N.C.-  The Charlotte men’s soccer team played strong soccer and received stellar play from senior leader Andres Cuero to upend Clemson, 2-1, in double overtime on Tuesday night in front of 2,579 fans at Transamerica Field, the second-highest attended game at home in Charlotte history.

Cuero played his best match of the season when the 49ers (4-4, 0-0) needed it most, scoring both Niner goals including the game-winner in double overtime. Of Cuero’s team-high six shots on the night, four were on goal, as he paced the offense the entire evening. The two goals marked his first two of the year.

“Andres has been a great player this year, but it hasn’t resulted in as many goals,” Charlotte head coach Jeremy Gunn said. “The challenge tonight to him was, I am not so worried about the rest of the game, just put the ball in the net. He was phenomenal for most of the night.”

After the two teams battled to a standstill in the first overtime, the match appeared headed for a draw, until Cuero received a ball from sophomore Justin Tucker from 30 yards out in the center of the field. The Austin, Texas native caught the defense off guard, quickly spinning and delivering a strike that grazed the palms of the diving goalie and found the back left corner of the net.

“As a striker they say you get tunnel vision, and I got that in front of the goal,” Cuero said. “I went with my instincts and decided to take it. Luckily it went in.”

For the third consecutive game Charlotte’s opponent got on the scoreboard first. In the 18th minute, Clemson (1-5-1, 0-2-1) earned a corner kick. The 49ers tried to head the cross out of the box, but could not, as the Tigers’ Jack Metcalf gathered the ball and, from just inside the box, rocketed it into the back of the net.

The 49ers evened the score up four minutes later thanks to Cuero again. Sophomore Donnie Smith took a free kick from the right side of the field, 25 yards out, and kicked a perfect ball. From close in, Cuero got a head on the ball and pushed it past the goalie for the equalizer.

Charlotte dominated the rest of the way, racking a huge advantage in shots, including a 16-3 margin in the first half. In the second half, Charlotte out-shot Clemson 8-2, and forced impressive saves from the Tigers’ keeper Cody Mizell.

In the 68th minute, junior Evan James earned three back-to-back looks from close range, including a header Mizell leaped to stop, but could not capitalize. With the clock winding down in regulation, junior Isaac Cowles got another good look in the 87th minute, but again Mizell made a jumping save and kept the Niners at bay. Cuero drove a strike in the first overtime, one of two shots for the 49ers in the period, and again Mizell made the save, but the Clemson keeper could not stop the blast from Cuero in the second overtime to give Charlotte the win.

The Niners held a 28-6 overall advantage in shots, and an 8-5 edge in corner kicks. Along with Cuero’s six shots, freshman Tyler Gibson tallied five. Smith and Tucker earned assists on Charlotte’s first and second goals, respectively, and 49er goalie junior Gavin Dawson, seeing his first action in a Charlotte uniform, got the win with four saves. Mizell registered nine saves for Clemson.

 “It is really frustrating, for most of the game and the season, we have had chances and chances but the ball just does not go in,” Cuero said. “But we always say focus on the next one, and don’t let the misses go to our head. Tonight we did that.”

The 2,579 fans marked the second-highest attended men’s soccer match in Charlotte history. The record stands at 3,500, which came in 1992 in an NCAA Tournament matchup against in-state rival Davidson.

Charlotte will take on their third straight opponent from South Carolina on Saturday as the 49ers face Furman. Start time is set for 7 p.m., at Transamerica Field. Results and live stats will be available at charlotte49ers.com.