CHARLOTTE – The Gardner-Webb men's soccer team opened the season at #21 Charlotte and fell to the nationally-ranked 49ers, 3-0, on Friday night.

"We struggled to generate any offense and get the ball into our attacking third," said head coach Tony Setzer. "Unfortunately none of our three attempts were on goal, and we have to credit Charlotte for not allowing us to get possession often. Charlotte is a very good team, and they showed that tonight. We'll regroup and get ready for South Carolina on Tuesday, which will be another good test for our squad."

Oskar Wang and Dorian Samo combined to take Gardner-Webb's three shots on the night, while Charlotte managed 18, with seven of those attempts being on goal.
GWU's (0-1-0) first shot came from Wang in the eighth minute and was wide of the net. Charlotte had five attempts in the first 24 minutes with Maclean Holbrook putting the 49ers on top with a goal in the 24^th minute.

The Gardner-Webb back line limited the 49ers to just two attempts over the remaining 21 minutes of the first half, and both attempts were well off the mark.

Wang and Samo each took shots in the first 10 minutes of the second half, but Samo's attempt in the 55^th minute, which was high of the net, was the Runnin' Bulldogs' final shot of the night.

The 49ers (1-0-0) had shots on goal in the 62^nd and 69^th minutes respectively, but Daniel Husa saved both to keep Charlotte's lead at one.

Charlotte would pull ahead late with two goals in the final 20 minutes. With 17 minutes remaining, Patrick Hogan put the 49ers up by a pair of goals, and Charlotte extended its lead to three when Teddy Chaouche scored off a penalty kick in the 83^rd minute.

In goal, Husa played the full 90 minutes and made five stops for the Runnin' Bulldogs.

The 'Dogs will regroup and hit the practice field before heading to Columbia, S.C. to battle the South Carolina Gamecocks on Tuesday, September 3 at 7 p.m. The Runnin' Bulldogs and Gamecocks played an exhibition match in 2018.