WILMINGTON, North Carolina – Graduate student forward
Nicolas Molina scored his team-leading third goal of the season, but it was not enough as UNCW dropped a 3-1 decision against Charlotte in non-conference men's soccer action at the UNCW Soccer Stadium on Tuesday evening.
The loss dropped the Seahawks' record to 3-2-0 on the season while Charlotte holds an identical 3-2-0 mark after winning for the third time in the last four games.
Charlotte took a 2-0 lead midway through the first half by scoring a pair of goals in a six-minute span. Junior
Kameron Lacey got the scoring started in the 20th minute when he collected a loose ball that was misplayed by the Seahawks and scored an unassisted marker for his second goal of the year.
With 19:29 remaining in the opening stanza, senior forward
Preston Popp upped the advantage by converting a penalty kick after the Seahawks were whistled for a foul in the penalty area.
UNCW trimmed the deficit to 2-1 just under two minutes when Molina was awarded a penalty kick after being fouled in the penalty area. His attempt went inside the left post past redshirt senior goalkeeper
Daniel Kuzemka, giving the Buenos Aires, Argentina, product his third goal in the last three outings.
The 49ers increased the margin in the early stages of the second half as redshirt senior midfielder
Joe Brito sent in a corner kick into the penalty area that was headed in by senior forward Alex Willis for his first marker of the campaign.
Junior goalkeeper
Gabriel Perrotta tallied four saves in the loss for UNCW, which held a 13-10 advantage in shots and a 6-4 edge in corner kicks.
Kuzemka posted five saves for the 49ers, who have scored three goals in each of their three victories this season.
The Seahawks, who played at home for just the second time this season, wrap up their quick two-game homestand on Saturday, Sept. 18, by welcoming Longwood to the UNCW Soccer Stadium for a 6 p.m. contest. Charlotte, meanwhile, begins a three-game homestand by hosting Niagara on Sunday, Sept. 19.
