Charlotte 49ers Working Overtime For Wins In 2012

A year ago, winning the close ones became a Charlotte 49ers trademark in their run to the NCAA Division I championship game.

No different this year, as the 49ers have played five overtime games to open the 2012 season. That’s five of the first seven in double overtime.

Most recently, Giuseppe Gentile scored as the fifth-ranked Charlotte 49ers (5-0-2) tied UNC Greensboro, 1-1, in double overtime on the road.

They played on the road, but had a lot of fan support in Greensboro.

“A huge thank you to the Queen City Army that made the trip to Greensboro,” Charlotte coach Kevin Langan. “The players and coaching staff really appreciated their support tonight it felt like a home game.

“Tonight was a tough game. UNCG plays very direct. We did an unbelievable job of defending tonight. We have had a tough stretch playing four games in eight days so to come out of that stretch with a 3-0-1 record is fantastic.”

Gentile’s goal was his second of the season. Year ago as a freshman, he was one of the offensive leaders in the run to second in the national tournament.

This year seven different 49ers have scored goals. Aiden Kirkbride (England) and Donnie Smith (Matthews, NC) join Gentile (Charlotte, NC) with two goals each, and Jennings Rex (Boone, NC) is the offensive leader with three goals and seven points.

Other overtime wins this fall have been 1-0 over Coastal Carolina, 3-2 over South Carolina, and 2-1 over Denver. The 49ers also went overtime in a 1-1 draw with the University of Alabama Birmingham.

Smith scored a dramatic golden goal in the closing minutes of the second overtime to beat the Gamecocks.

“Incredible game of soccer,” Langan said after the USC win. “We would take the lead then South Carolina got back in it. Then, we took the lead again and South Carolina tied it again.

“In the second overtime, Donnie Smith picked the ball up at midfield and drove it down the field and did what he does. He connected on a beautiful left-footed shot that went off the post. This was a game played between two very good teams.”