CHARLOTTE – Kennesaw State traveled to North Carolina last weekend to kick off the 2016 season. Sunny skies and cool temperatures met the team as they convened on the campus of UNC-Charlotte in the northern suburbs of the regional metropolis. Sixty hard fought minutes later, the Owls were 1-0 after a 7-4 victory.

“It was a tough win," said Kennesaw coach Tyler Yelken. "UNCC is a playoff team, and we are just happy to get out of there with a 'W.'”

The Owls struggled out of the gate, giving up a goal on the first possession and failing to score a goal in the first quarter. Meanwhile, All-American goalie Connor Hanson was there to keep KSU in the game, stopping 10 of 12 shots to keep the deficit at just 2-1 at halftime.

“Play was obviously sloppy on both sides, however, we played well as a unit and Connor really stepped up, as usual, to give us a chance to compete," said assistant coach Tom Mudrak.

The huddle was calm at half, as the senior laden team never panicked while discussing the first half. Whatever adjustments the team made at halftime, they worked.

The Owls tallied four goals in the third quarter to totally swing momentum and take the game away from the 49ers, just when the upset seemed possible.

The game hinged off the stick of an unlikely hero. Tied 2-2, junior long-stick middie -- all-conference selection -- Hayden Armistead finished a give-and-go cut, catching the ball on the crease and burying it to give the Owls the lead. The goal sent the bench into a furor and jump-started an offense that was struggling up until then.

“A win is a win,” Yelken said. “The fact we were able to work through our early struggles was really encouraging.”

Kennesaw would add two more goals in the fourth quarter to put the game away. Cody Clarke led the way, scoring three times for the Owls. Meanwhile, Hanson finished the game with an 85.7 save percentage.