2025 is here and promises another year of Charlotte sports redefining the gold standard, moving forward, and setting new highs for those in the Queen City.
Looking back at yesterday's accomplishments, here are the Charlotte 49ers' top 10 moments of 2024.
Honorable Mention: Charlotte wins double-overtime thriller in Hawaii over Murray State
While competing in the Hawaiian Airlines Diamond Head Classic, Charlotte took on Murray State with tip-off at 1 am Eastern. The game ended up being an instant classic, going to double overtime and seeing the Niners secure a 94-90 victory. Finishing up around 4 am, led by career-high point performances by Nik Graves and Giancarlo Rosado with 31 and 23, respectively.Â
Honorable Mention: Volleyball five-set thriller over UTSA for first AAC win of season
In a season that saw the 49ers face many hardships on and off the court, the team was able to rally to the victory over UTSA to secure their first win over an American Athletic Conference (AAC) opponent on the year going to a fifth set led by seniors Kristen Birmingham, Jessica Ricks, and Lara Kretschmer who each recorded a double-double with 10+ kills and digs.
10:Women’s basketball AAC debut overtime win over preseason favorite USF
In the first test as a part of the AAC, the 49ers traveled on the road to South Florida to take on the preseason conference favorite in their debut. Led by Dazia Lawrence, Charlotte battled it out, forcing the game into overtime. Then, in overtime, Lawrence paired with Keanna Rembert, combined for 10 of the team’s 11 points, securing the 66-61 victory.
9: Softball kicks off the season with an extra Inning win over #4 Florida State
Beginning the season on the right track came in dramatic fashion for Charlotte softball. Coming off an NCAA Regional appearance, the team was eager to prove sustained success, and they did, knocking off the #4 ranked team, Florida State, in extra innings. Sam Gress came in relief to pitch in the fifth inning and shut down the Seminoles' offense, holding them to two runs in six innings of work. This allowed Abigail Knight to knock in the winning run on an RBI single in the 10th inning.
8: Thad Ector ties baseball program record with three home runs in a single game
Charlotte baseball saw a performance for the ages when Thad Ector hit three homes in a single game on March 15. Ector was feeling it at the plate, being a catalyst for a productive offensive performance as the Niners beat UNCW 21-10 while Ector went 3-4 with five runs scored and five RBI in the contest.Â
7: Macey Bader's three games with a goal streak pushes women’s soccer to playoffs
Women’s soccer was on the cusp of being eliminated from making the conference tournament with four games left to play, needing the tide to turn in their favor, and following her history of performing in the big moments, Macey Bader delivered again. Bader scored a goal in three straight matches, propelling the Niners to be in a solid standing heading into their final game and making the playoffs.Â
6: Riley Felts sets program record in NCAA appearance
On day two of the NCAA Track and Field Championships on June 7, Charlotte’s star performer Riley Felts finished as the national runner-up while carving her name into 49er glory. Felts posted a pole vault of 14'9" (4.50m), setting the program record. She has been named one of the final nine finalists for 2024 NCAA Woman of the Year for her accomplishments.
5: Men’s tennis doubles duo’s historic appearance in NCAA tournament
Charlotte men’s tennis tandem of Matias Iturbe and Vasco Prata made history, becoming the first doubles team in program history to make the NCAA tournament; after securing the AAC Doubles Championship, they competed in the ITA Masters Championship, where they performed well enough to earn a spot in the NCAA. The dynamic duo beat out Weber State to advance to the round of 16, where their historic run came to a close, but they were still trailblazers on new paths that Charlotte had not previously achieved.Â
4: Charlotte football sinks East Carolina in rivalry runawayÂ
With all the ups and downs of the football season, Niner Nation got to feel one of the program’s ultimate high notes as they played East Carolina at home for the first time in program history. This game showed everything the team had the potential to be as they won in gaudy fashion 55-24. Jerry Richardson Stadium was rocking as the 49ers took an early 14-0 lead, then the Pirates clawed back to 14-10, but then things turned up a notch, taking a 31-10 lead into halftime and never wavering en route to the win.
3: Men’s basketball win over #17 FAU
Charlotte basketball returned a magical spark that Niner Nation had not seen in a long time as they rallied to defeat #17 ranked Florida Atlantic 70-68 on Jan. 6. Lu’Cye Patterson finished off the critical victory by coming through with the final seven points of the game for the 49ers.
2: Softball prevails as AAC champs in first year in conference
As the season kicked off with a significant win, the momentum held up through the season as the Niners secured the AAC Championship with a monster win over Wichita State 10-1 behind a dominant four-inning pitching performance from Gress and two home runs and five RBI from Arianna Rodi.
1: Men’s soccer repeats as AAC champs
After pulling off the major championship run in 2023, the men’s soccer team showed off a flair for the dramatics as they became back-to-back AAC champions. In the closing moments of the first half, Natsuki Ogata came through with the game-tying goal. Then, in the 100th minute, Brigham Larsen broke free for a one-on-one with the keeper and found the net to secure the golden goal victory.
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