Niners hire women's soccer assistant

Former Western Carolina women's soccer standout Heather Dittmer has been hired as an assistant coach with the Charlotte 49ers.

Dittmer finished her career at Western Carolina with 15 goals which is tied for the fourth highest in the program’s history. She also finished fifth in the program’s history with 39 career points. As a junior, she earned first-team All-Southern Conference and N.C. Collegiate Sports Information Association All-State honors.

"I really like the qualities that she possesses as a player and a person. To be able to watch her have an opportunity to take what she has learned as a player and continue to grow as a young coach is exciting for me," said Charlotte coach Jon Lipsitz.

Dittmer played two years with the W-League’s Cocoa Expos from 2006 to 2007. In 2006, she led the Expos in goals while leading them to a third place finish in their inaugural season.