No. 10 Charlotte routs South Carolina

COLUMBIA, S.C. -- Behind a stout defense and goals by Matej Dekovic, Kyle Parker and Zhuvonte Wilson, the tenth-ranked Charlotte 49ers defeated South Carolina 3-0 on the road for their seventh consecutive win Saturday.

In all eight wins this season, the 49ers have scored at least two goals and Charlotte has had five games with at least three goals. With the 49ers win, Charlotte improves to 2-0 in Conference USA which marks the seventh time in school history that the 49ers have begun conference play 2-0.

“It was an incredible performance by our team tonight,” Charlotte coach Kevin Langan said. “Tonight’s win began with great defending from our back four, our goalkeeper right through the midfield. This was a solid road performance by our team tonight. We were dynamic going forward. We were breaking with pace and numbers. We scored three incredible goals tonight. I couldn’t be happier and excited for our guys.”

After a scoreless first half, the 49ers scored their first goal when Dekovic blasted a free kick from 29 yards out into the lower right corner of the goal in the 52nd minute. Dekovic’s goal was his first of the season.

The 49ers made the score 2-0 when Brandt Bronico pushed the ball down the right side of the field. He passed to Wilson who crossed the ball to Parker who put the ball into the back of the net from 15 yards out in the 74th minute. Parker’s goal was his fifth of the season and the 18th of his career.

In the 79th minute, Wilson closed out the scoring by putting a shot into the lower right corner of the goal for his third goal of the season.

Charlotte finished the game with a 9-7 advantage in shots. Eight of the 49ers nine shots came in the second half. Bronico led the 49ers with three shots. While, Parker added two shots to the 49ers attack.

Charlotte defense was led by the play of goalkeeper Austin Pack, who finished the game with four saves, and defenders Dekovic, Biko Bradnock-Brennan, Luke Waechter and Nick Barnhorst held South Carolina scoreless for their fourth shutout of the season. The 49ers have now limited seven foes to a goal or less this season.