Nov. 13, 2007

CHARLOTTE, N.C. - The Charlotte 49ers (16-4-1), who are the Atlantic 10 regular season and tournament champs, will face Clemson (9-5-5) in the first round of NCAA Tournament at the University of Tennessee this Friday, Nov. 16. Tennessee (13-4-2), the host team and No. 3 overall seed, battles Furman (16-5-1) in the other first round NCAA Tournament game in Knoxville, Tenn. The winners of those two games will meet for a berth in the Sweet 16 on Nov. 18. The 49ers are making their third NCAA Tournament appearance in the program's history after making the NCAA's in 1998 and 2002.

"This is huge for our program" said Charlotte head coach Jon Lipsitz, the 2007 A-10 Coach of the Year. "It is a wonderful moment for our program to play in the NCAA Tournament. This is the most exciting moment in my coaching career. We are looking forward to playing Clemson again and playing our best soccer at Tennessee this weekend."

This game will mark the second meeting this season between Charlotte and Clemson. The 49ers defeated then No. 17Clemson, 3-1, at Charlotte's Transamerica Field in the final game of the Carolina's Cup on Sept. 16. In the first meeting this season, freshman Whitney Weinraub, senior Rachel Mees and senior Lindsey Ozimek scored for 49ers.

The 49ers enter the NCAA Tournament on fire having won ten of their last 11 games including victories over Richmond and Fordham this past weekend to capture the A-10 Championship. During that stretch, the 49ers defense led by second-team All-Atlantic 10 selections sophomore goalkeeper Lauren Brown and freshman defender Whitney Bryant, have six shutouts and limited ten of those opponents to a goal or less.

The 49ers offense has outscored their opposition 41-13 this season. Charlotte is led in goals by A-10 All-Rookie selection freshman Sam Huecker and fellow freshman Weinraub who have six goals apiece. The 49ers offensive attack is led by A-10 Midfielder of the Year Ozimek, who leads the team and the A-10 with 12 assists. Sophomore Hailey Beam enters the tournament on fire after scoring a goal and recording an assist in the finals of the A-10 Championship against Fordham to earn Most Outstanding Performer honors.

This season, Charlotte has won a school-record tying 16 games and for the 11th time in the program's 14-year history, the 49ers have posted double-figure wins.

In the 49ers last NCAA Tournament appearance, Charlotte lost to James Madison, 1-0, on Nov. 15, 2002. In 1998, the 49ers posted a 2-0 opening round win over South Carolina before falling to soccer power North Carolina on the road in the second round.