CHARLOTTE, N.C.- Matthew Swan made a season-high nine saves but No. 19 Charlotte scored early in the first half and added three second half goals to defeat the Gardner-Webb men's soccer team 4-0 in a non-conference match on Monday night at Transamerica Field.
The 49ers outshot Gardner-Webb 13-2 in the opening half, but after scoring in the ninth minute were not able to get a shot past Swan, as the sophomore goalkeeper made five big saves to keep the game close.
Arjun Jung, Frej Ramberg, and Sami Jilla each had a shot for the Runnin' Bulldogs, while Brandt Bronico led the 49er attack with a game-high five shots.
Charlotte would take a 1-0 lead in the ninth minute when Bronico crossed the ball to Mayer, who received the pass, and shot it into the goal for his first of the season.
The 49ers managed nine additional shots in the final 39 minutes of the opening half, but only managed to get that one shot behind Swan, as Charlotte would hold a 1-0 lead at the halftime break.
Bronico doubled the Charlotte lead to 2-0 with a strike in the 50th minute. Max Rodriguez gave a swift pass to Bronico in the offensive end, who drilled a shot from just outside the box that found the back of the net.
The best scoring chance of the match for the Runnin' Bulldogs, came in the 53rd minute when Jilla put a strike on net that looked like it had a chance to find the 49er net, but his shot smacked the post.
Charlotte added goals in the 65th and 67th minute as it would go on to defeat the Runnin' Bulldogs 4-0.
Gardner-Webb looks to shake off the defeat in its next game Friday, when it travels to Birmingham, Ala. to face the University of Alabama Birmingham Blazers at 7:30 p.m.
