CHARLOTTE – With Charlotte holding on to a 16-15 lead in the waning minutes over league-leader South Florida, defensive captain Gianna Cutaia had one request of head coach Clare Short, "Put me back in."
So, with 1:15 remaining and USF attack Maggie Newton about to receive a ball mere steps from 49er keeper Katie Ling, it was fittingly Cutaia's defensive stick work that disrupted the pass and sent the Niners on a counterattack that would ultimately put the game away and give Charlotte their first conference victory in program history.
"Just to be able to get that turnover, get that stop, and get that ball back up field was awesome," Short said.