BUIES CREEK, N.C. – Kyjoi Hata figured in all three goals and Campbell extended its unbeaten streak to five matches Saturday with a 3-1 Homecoming night victory over UNC Asheville at the Eakes Complex.
 
Hata scored the equalizer with just 14 seconds remaining in the first half and assisted on goals by Daniel Hernandez and Jalen James in the second as the Camels (7-2-3, 3-0-1) moved into sole possession of first place in the Big South standings.  UNC Asheville (1-8-3, 0-1-2) is winless in its last 10 matches (0-7-3) overall.
 
"Credit to UNC Asheville. They really made us work for it," said Campbell head coach Dustin Fonder.  "In the first half, their press was very good and we didn't handle it as well as we are capable of.  But, great character response from our guys to go down a goal and to come back and still find a way to win and get three points."
 
Campbell nearly grabbed the lead in the fifth minute, but Gerard Broussard's shot on a rebound sailed high of the crossbar.
 
The Bulldogs grabbed the lead when Sam Pitts-Eckersall struck a left-footed shot that deflected off a Camel defender and inside the left post for his fifth goal of the season.  The strike marked the first time in five home matches this season that the Camels have trailed.
 
James nearly drew the Camels level less than a minute later, but his right-footed shot hit the left post.
 
Hata took advantage of a 45th minute Asheville foul when he curled a right-footed free kick from outside the box around the wall and inside A.J. Bengds' right post for his first goal of the season to send the Camels into intermission deadlocked a 1-1.
 
Just 5:14 into the second half, Hata split the Asheville back four with a pass that Hernandez ran on to, dribbled the keeper and slotted home his fourth goal of the year.
 
Hata then fed a pass to Hernandez, who played provider in the 85th minute on James' league-leading seventh goal.
 
Campbell finished with a 15-7 advantage in shots and took eight corner kicks to just one for the visitors.  Edu Rodriguez made two stops in the Camel nets, while Bengds finished with five saves.
 
NOTES: The Camels improved to 30-2-6 in their last 38 matches at the Eakes Complex, including a 3-0-2 mark in this season.  Under 8th-year Coach Dustin Fonder, Campbell is 45-17-7 in Buies Creek… CU ran its record to 30-1-5 in its last 36 games (regular season and tournament) vs. Big South foes, including a 24-1-3 mark in regular season play over the last four seasons... The Camels have won their last 8 meetings with the Bulldogs and 11 of the last 12 since re-joining the Big South in 2011.  CU leads the all-time series 21-3-1… Campbell hosts High Point Wednesday (Oct. 12) in a 7 p.m. kickoff.