RUSTON – Louisiana Tech equalized in the second half to force overtime, but Charlotte scored with just 15 seconds remaining in the first OT period to take the match, 2-1, on a hot and humid Sunday afternoon at Robert Mack Caruthers Field.
 
LA Tech (4-5-1, 0-2-0 C-USA) was the aggressor early in the match, generating four shot attempts in the first 15 minutes but with no result. 
 
Charlotte (5-4-0, 1-1-0 C-USA) struck first though on just its second shot attempt as Piper Biziorek ran down the ball near the end line and crossed it into the box where Macey Bader connected a one-touch goal with the right foot in the 18th minute.  
 
That was all the scoring action for the first half, but the Lady Techsters equalized in the 58th minute when Kalli Matlock, making her second start of the season, fired a bullet from 25 yards out with her left foot and planted it into the back of the net.
 
A lot of substitutions ensued for both teams due to the heat and LA Tech had its chances to pull ahead, including in the 90th minute when Lena Radler sent a last second shot on target before regulation ended.  However, the keeper was able to punch the ball over the crossbar for the save, sending it into the extra frame.
 
With the match about to go into a second OT period, a 49er blasted a shot from over 40 yards away that clanked off the post and came back into play.
 
LA Tech was unable to clear the ball before Julia Patrum chipped it high into the air, which managed to cross the goal line. 
 
QUOTABLES
Interim head coach Steve Voltz
 
"Overtime games are really tough emotionally.  There is not a magic word you can say to your players that is going to make things better.  The way we dedicated ourselves in the second half, tying things up, and then having a couple of really good looks to win the game, it is something I was really proud of.  We have to find a way to get up from this defeat.  At the end of the day, the effort from our players was top notch.  It is a matter of finding a way to reward ourselves for that effort."
 
NOTABLES

• With the loss, Charlotte now leads the all-time series, 4-1-0.It was the first home loss of the season for LA Tech.
• It was the first overtime loss of the season for LA Tech (second OT game) and the first overtime loss at home since 2016.
• LA Tech had double-digit shots for the fourth straight game (eighth overall this season).
• Kalli Matlock netted her second goal of the season.
• Josie Studer, Laura Ogando and Libe Banuelos played the full 100 minutes.

UP NEXT
LA Tech heads to Houston on Friday, Sept. 24 to take on defending C-USA champion Rice.  Kickoff is set for 5 p.m. and will be streamed live on CUSA.tv.
 
SOCIAL MEDIA
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