The Charlotte 49ers are perfect at home. Next week it won’t matter.

Hosting the Conference USA tournament at Transamerica Field does not negate the 49ers’ regular season success, but it cannot help them in postseason when they kick off on Nov. 7 against Alabama-Birmingham.

“We have won every [home] game,” Charlotte coach Kevin Langan said. “We haven’t conceded a goal. We’ve looked strong. We’ve really made it a fortress. The exciting thing is, we can look back and be proud of that, but now we get to absolutely reset, just like every other team in the country. It’s now postseason. You’ve got to win, or you go home. Knockout soccer has a bit of a different feel to it.”

As the tournament’s third seed, the 49ers host No. 6 UAB at 7 p.m. in the final match of the quarterfinal round. No. 4 Florida International and No. 5 Marshall kick off the tournament at 2 p.m., followed by No. 2 Old Dominion and No. 7 New Mexico at 4:30 p.m.

“Everything we have done now means nothing,” senior midfielder Tommy Madden said. “Now we can be proud of what we have done, but at the end of the day, it doesn’t help us at all going into these next games.”

Kentucky and Charlotte are the only two C-USA teams ranked in the top 20 national RPI at Nos. 11 and 15 respectively. At No. 46, Old Dominion in the closest league mate in the ratings per the NCAA index.

Charlotte, ranked 19^th in the nation, is 9-0 at home this season and has outscored opponents 21-0. The 49ers have not allowed a goal at Transamerica in 890 minutes, which dates back to last season. They have produced six clean sheets, and are on a six-game winning streak, culminating with Saturday’s 1-0 win against New Mexico. Madden scored the winner in the 88^th minute, his fourth goal of the season and a necessary confidence boost after missing a penalty against Florida Atlantic on Oct. 31.

“I like it when players score with two minutes left having missed a few, because it shows a great mindset to just keep going, and going, and going, and not saying, ‘woe me,’ and looking at the stars,” Langan said. “We’re all proud of Tommy. He looked like when he went back on, he was going to make it his night.”

Said Madden: “It was a terrible penalty. I wanted to put it straight tonight, and happily we did.”

Langan pointed out that the ever even keeled midfielder gave into the joy of the moment with an uncharacteristic goal celebration. Madden noted that he has never been a fan of goal celebrations, but tonight, he could not help himself. He kept the celebration simple, running straight to the corner with his overjoyed teammates.

“I like to focus on the next play,” Madden said. “It was a big win. My emotions got the best of me.”  

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