Sept. 1, 2001

Stats

BLACKSBURG, Va. - The Charlotte women's soccer team kicked off its 2001 season with a double-overtime 1-1 tie at Virginia Tech on Friday, August 31 in Blacksburg, Va. The 49ers got on the board first, as junior Jennie Leeder (Spring, Texas/Klein) scored at 39:23. Leeder picked up a loose ball on the left side and punched the shot over the head of Hokie goalkeeper Katie Hancock, off the far post, and in for the 1-0 advantage. The goal for Leeder marked her first of the season and fifth of her career.

The Hokies countered at 55:38 when Emily Barnhardt found the back of the net to knot the score at one apiece. The teams then played over 64 minutes without scoring another goal, before the game ended in the tie.

Junior Jenn Howell (Marietta, Ga./McEachern) returned between the pipes for Charlotte. Howell had not played since last October 13, when she suffered a season-ending ACL injury. In her return, Howell recorded six saves in playing the entire 120 minutes in net.

Charlotte resumes play next Friday, September 7, at defending National Champion North Carolina in Chapel Hill, N.C., as part of the Carolina Classic. The 49ers will not open the season at home until Tuesday, September 18 at 7:00 p.m., as they host rival Davidson at Transamerica Field.