A last second goal from USF upended the No. 22 Charlotte men's soccer team as the Niners fell to the Bulls, 2-1, on Tuesday night at Transamerica Field.
The loss was the Niners (8-3-2, 2-3-2 AAC) second consecutive loss to South Florida (4-5-4, 3-1-3 AAC) who jumps into poll position to make the AAC Tournament with just two league contests remaining.
CLT's lone goal came from Sophomore Callum Watts, who finished a gorgeous curling effort from just outside the 18 to even the score line at 1-1 in the 77th minute.
The opening half was largely a stalemate between the programs with the Bulls owning the lions share of the shots and possession in the attacking third.
A trio of key saves from keeper Thomas Wallis, kept the score level at 0-0 as the sides headed into the locker room.
Out of halftime, the Niners were the aggressors firing off a trio of shots early on the USF net, but failed to take a lead in the first 15 minutes of the second half.
Just past the hour mark, the Bulls pounced, taking a, 1-0, lead off the foot of Ajmeer Spengler in the 64th minute.
The Niners quickly responded holding possession just about entirely in the attacking third.
Eventually CLT's persistence paid as Watts found the back of the net from outside the 18 to even the tie at, 1-1, with less than 15 minutes remaining.
Over the final quarter of an hour Charlotte continued to pepper the Bulls keeper with multiple chances to find the go-ahead goal, but couldn't push the final ball over the line.
In the dying seconds, USF found the back of the net on a long throw-in to end the evening with all three points.
UP NEXT
Charlotte returns to action for a Friday night bout with FIU. Kickoff from Transamerica Field is slated for 7 p.m. ET on ESPN+. Seniors Malcolm Walters, Thomas Wallis, Sean Suber, Axel Sigurdarson, Alex Willis, Koby Carr and Luke Johnson will be honored prior to kickoff.