RUSTON, La. – Louisiana Tech soccer will play the backend of a two-game Conference USA road swing against Charlotte Thursday, Sep. 22 at 6 p.m. in Charlotte, N.C. at Transamerica Field.
 
MATCH INFORMATION
Date/Time: Thursday, Sep. 22 | 6 p.m.
Location: Transamerica Field (Charlotte, N.C.)
Live Stats: LATechSports.com/Stats
Live Stream: ESPN+
Series: Charlotte leads 4-1-0 | 0-2-0 in Charlotte
 
ABOUT LA TECH (3-5-2)
Louisiana Tech looks to remain unbeaten in conference play after picking up a home win over WKU (1-0) and earning a hard fought come-from-behind draw with UTEP (2-2) in El Paso last Sunday.
 
Tech has a chance for their best start to Conference USA play if they can earn the win in Charlotte, giving them seven points through three games. They have earned six points previously in the 2018 and 2019 seasons, starting 2-1-0.
 
The three goals scored last week matches the best two-game stretch of the season since the first two matches against Murray State and Northwestern State. Tech has outshot their last three opponents (33-20) and have increased scoring chances from set pieces earning 18 corner kicks over the last four matches. Tech had just 11 corners in the first six matches of 2022. 
 
Tech has continued to get healthier after battling an array of injuries including the return of senior captain Josie Studer who missed the first eight matches of the season. Tech has had to lean on a number of youthful players to open the season seeing 19 players earn at least one starting spot through ten matches. 
 
Flavie Dube has continued to be a bright spot off the bench for the Lady Techsters. The freshman scored her team-leading third goal in the draw in El Paso while adding her first career assist. She now also leads the team in points (7) and is tied for the team lead in shots (10) and shots on goal (7). Dube has appeared in all ten matches earning three starts. 
 
Alma Cedefors earned the game-winning goal against WKU in the C-USA opener and Carmen Suarez earned the equalizer against UTEP. 
 
Sydnee Korchak earned her third shutout of the season in the 1-0 over WKU and sits at 36 saves during the 2022 campaign with a .707 save percentage.
 
ABOUT CHARLOTTE (1-6-2)
Charlotte welcomes LA Tech to Transamerica Field after spending their last three matches on the road against Gardner-Webb (3-3), North Texas (0-4), and UTSA (0-2). Their lone win was at home against Coastal Carolina, 2-1, on Sep. 8.
 
The 49ers started the 2022 campaign just 1-4-0 but have played the likes of ACC foes Virginia Tech and the top-five ranked Duke Blue Devils. 
 
Charlotte is now led by new head coach Brandi Fontaine who takes over for the program's all-time winningest coach, John Cullen, who stepped down for a new position in March. 
 
Fontaine comes to Charlotte as a two-time Big South Coach of the Year from High Point, who led the Panthers to two undefeated Big South regular-season titles and a 2021 NCAA tournament bid after winning the Big South Tournament. 
 
On the field, the 49ers are led by a pair of midfielders in junior Tash Hudson and freshman Bailey Manfredi. Hudson and Manfredi have combined for six of Charlotte's seven goals. Hudson leads the team with eight points off four goals and leads the team in total shots (17) and shots on goal (10). Manfredi has added five points on two goals and an assist and was named the Conference USA Offensive Player of the Week on Sep. 13 for her performance against Gardner-Webb. 
 
In goal, Charlotte has used three keepers in Emily Keck, Brenna Murray, and Emma Wakeman. All three have earned starts in 2022 with Keck, a redshirt sophomore, leading the way with six. Keck has logged a team-leading 495 minutes in goal and registered 29 saves paired with a .690 save percentage. Wakeman, the junior North Carolina native, earned the win over Coastal Carolina, posting four saves in the 2-1 victory. 
 
THE SERIES
LA Tech and Charlotte will meet for the sixth time on the pitch Thursday night, with Charlotte leading the all-time series 4-1-0. The 49ers also hold a 2-0 series lead in North Carolina where Tech was shutout in 2014 (3-0) and 2016 (4-0).
 
Tech's lone series win came in 2017 (2-1) in Ruston before falling to the 49ers later that season in the Conference USA tournament semifinals in Boca Raton, Fla.

Last year's meeting was taken by Charlotte in Ruston, 2-1, in overtime on a goal in the 100'. 
 
Charlotte leads the all-time goal count, 11-3. 
 
SOCIAL MEDIA
For live in-match updates, follow LA Tech Soccer on Twitter (@LATechSOC), Instagram (@LATechSoccer), and Facebook (LATechSoccer).