Charlotte tames Tigers

Charlotte seniors Whitney Weinraub and Sam Huecker took care of business Friday afternoon. The duo both scored goals to lead the Niners’ soccer team to a 2-1 victory over the Towson Tigers in the first game of the Villanova Classic.

Weinraub’s 23rd-minute tally was her second of the season and 33rd of her stellar career—leaving her just three goals shy of the all-time program record.

"We played really good soccer in the first half," Charlotte coach John Cullen said. "We came out and jumped on Towson right from the start. We got quality goals from Whitney Weinraub and Sam Huecker. In the second half, Towson put us under some pressure and they scored a goal off a free kick to cut our lead in half. We need to learn how to finish off games better. However, a win is a win and now we look forward to playing Villanova on Sunday."

Charlotte senior Whitney Bryant set up the game’s first goal when she sent a perfect cross into the box. Weinraub executed the play perfectly and headed the ball over the Town goalkeeper to give the Niners a 1-0 lead.

Just five minutes later, Huecker gave the Niners a 2-0 advantage. The Crestwood, KY native scored for the first time since the season-opening win over Davidson when she took a Megan Minnix pass and blasted it into the left side of the net to put the Niners up by two.

The Niners totaled seven shots in the first stanza with Kirby Stenard, Jonna Handra, Weinraub and Minnix all accounting for scoring chances. Huecker and Macky Wingo both started the second half with a pair of shots that were either saved or went wide of the target.

Towson showed life in the 79th minute when Melissa Gomes scored off of a free kick from 35 yards out. That was all the Tigers could muster though as the Niner defense clamped down to secure the win.

Charlotte finished the game with a 15-9 shot advantage and 4-3 edge on corner kicks. Eight different Charlotte players accounted for shots with Wingo and Huecker both leading the Niners with three.

Cullen has been alternating between Freshman Alex Kubrick and Natalie LaVigne in net through the first seven games. Kubrick got the nod in net for Charlotte Friday and made three saves on four shots on target.