Over half way through the conference season, the Georgia road trip looks to be one of the most challenging journeys to the Peach State the program has faced against Middle Georgia, fresh off their first appearance in the national tournament and will be a contender to reach again, and Brewton-Parker who is currently sitting second in the SSAC standings. After taking a pair of wins, the Lady Eagles took advantage of the week off to recover and focus in on the contests Thursday and Saturday. Faulkner outshot their opponents last time out 84-11 over the weekend and look to maintain that form on the road.

DUEL WITH THE KNIGHTS - 4 p.m. central - Cochran, Ga.

In a rematch of the SSAC semifinals last year, Faulkner looks to take revenge on the road for the two losses handed to them by Middle Georgia last season. The Lady Eagles fell 2-0 in the semifinals as two penalties in three minutes gave the Knights the win just three weeks after suffering a 3-0 loss that was much closer than the scoreline suggested with Middle Georgia scoring in the first minute and in the final minute. 

The Knights are led offensively by Miagh Downey who claimed the SSAC Golden Boot, beating National Player of the Year Ana Paula Santos of William Carey. Downey claimed National Player of the Week honors Oct. 5 after scoring eight goals and four assists against Talladega and Blue Mountain. The English striker sits 21st in the country in goals scored this season and second in the league with 12 goals. She traditionally has had Faulkner's number with eight goals against the Lady Eagles in four matches. Hannah Theriault is also a double-digit goal scorer for the Knights with 10 goals so far this season for 2020 SSAC Coach of the Year Vinny Gill's squad that is receiving votes in the latest Top 25 poll.

Faith Pelletier-King and Luci Schroder pace the Faulkner attack with eight goals and five assists between the two of them. The duo combined for six goals and three assists in the two matches against Talladega and Blue Mountain. The efforts led Pelletier-King to SSAC Player of the Week honors and fifth all-time in program scoring. 

Both Faulkner and Middle Georgia have deployed multiple goalkeepers for significant time this season. Reagan Embry and Keila Cardeiro Carmona have split time with Embry starting nine of the 13 matches and Cardeiro Carmona playing in five with four starts. Embry boasts a .750 save percentage over 45 saves. Middle Georgia counters with Noemy Franco starting eight games in net while Courtney Link started four. Link has the higher save percentage and has three shutouts. 

Only the last meeting yielded less than three goals as scoring has been in no short supply between the sides since they first met in 2014. After winning the first three contests, Faulkner is on a five-game skid against the Cochran, Ga. side. This is just the third trip to Cochran in the series history with both teams taking a win previously. 

NEW-LOOK BARONS - 12:30 p.m. central - Mt. Vernon, Ga.

Historically, the matchup with the Barons has not posed many challenges to the Lady Eagles, only losing once since Ludacris danced with Justin Bieber in a bowling alley for a music video. However, this appears to be one of the best Brewton-Parker teams in program history. Led by Kadisha Martina, who's 14 goals places her top of the conference and 13th nationally, the Barons are technically second in the league with the goal differential tiebreaker over Middle Georgia, each having nine points through four league matches. Martina became the first Baron to place as a first team All-SSAC member since 2000 last season and will very likely repeat the feat. 

Aurora Miglio's eight goals and five assists are good for second in each category for Prince Borde's side. The offense is linked to the defense through DeAndra Pickering's eight assists. As a defender, Pickering's helpers set her first on the team and tied for first in the league. Kelsie Stapler has made her presence known between the sticks in her freshman campaign with 88 saves and a .752 save percentage with a pair of shutouts. 

Against common foes (Life, Ave Maria, Blue Mountain, Talladega, Mobile and William Carey) Faulkner is 2-4 while Brewton-Parker is 4-2. Both teams beat Blue Mountain and Talladega but Brewton-Parker was able to defeat both Life and Mobile.

Faulkner defeated Brewton-Parker last season in overtime and took a 1-0 win in the last trip to Mt. Vernon, Ga. 10 of the last 11 matches have ended with points to the Lady Eagles with just one draw. 

RETURNING THIS WEEKEND

The week off proved productive for the injury list, allowing three Lady Eagles to return to the travel squad for the weekend road trip. Alessia Confalonieri returns for the first time since Sept. 7 against Belhaven while Sofia de la Torre and Paige Coghill are on the team sheet for the first time since Sept. 12 against Alabama State. 

COVERAGE

Middle Georgia 
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Brewton-Parker 
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