WILMINGTON, NC - The nationally-ranked Charlotte 49ers men's soccer team defeated UNC Wilmington, 3-1, in an exhibition game behind goals by Giuseppe Gentile, Tyler Gibson and Kyle Parker.

"Overall, I was pleased with our performance," Charlotte coach Kevin Langan said. "It looks like we will be a team that is capable of scoring a lot of goals. We have great depth on this team and it showed tonight with 18 players seeing action in the game. Overall it was a good performance for our first exhibition game."

Gentile gave the 49ers a 1-0 lead when he stole the ball in UNC Wilmington's defensive third. He then put a shot past UNC Wilmington goalkeeper Brandon Bolden into the back of the net in the 18th  minute.

"Giuseppe jumped on a turnover and showed good composure on the ball scoring the game's first goal," Langan said.

Gibson gave the 49ers a 2-0 lead when he converted on a penalty kick in the 59th  minute. The goal was setup after Gentile was brought down in the box by a UNC Wilmington defender giving the 49ers a penalty kick.

UNC Wilmington cut Charlotte's lead in half when Thomas Driver headed in a Matt Feigler pass in the 79th  minute.

Parker scored the game's final goal when he headed in a Gentile cross in the 83rd  minute.

"Our third goal came off a great cross by Giuseppe." Langan said. "We put UNC Wilmington under a great deal of pressure and Kyle Parker was able to put Giuseppe's cross into the goal."

Charlotte finished the game with a 15-3 advantage in shots. Gentile led the 49ers with four shots. Anthony Perez and Parker each recorded three shots. Gibson tallied two shots in the game.

The 49ers host Gardner-Webb in their final exhibition game at Transamerica Field, Sunday, August 19 at 7 pm.