After one of the most impressive results in recent history with a draw against Alabama State, who at time of writing is just one game back of the SWAC lead, tough results have gone the way of the Lady Eagles. The last four matches have seen Faulkner face the top two teams in the country, another top 25 opponent and a team that the program has only seen victory over once, all on the road while dealing with a slew of injuries. The Lady Eagles' chance to get back on track starts this weekend against two new conference foes back on their home turf for the first time in 25 days. 

TANGO WITH THE TORNADOES

Thursday afternoon, Faulkner faces a familiar face for the first time in league play. Talladega makes its third visit to Billy D. Hilyer Stadium, a place where Faulkner has dominated against the Tornadoes. In the first two meetings in Montgomery, the Lady Eagles have won by a combined score of 23-0. 

A 2019 home-and-home marked the last time the sides faced each other with Faulkner winning 21-0 and allowing just one shot during 180 minutes of play while battering 82 shots towards the Tornado net. 

The Talladega matchup also provides a chance for Camila Parada to face her former school. As a member of the 2018 Tornado squad, Parada scored eight goals and two assists as a forward in eight appearances. The Argentine scored three of her four goals for Faulkner against her former team in the two meetings in 2019.

Talladega opened its season with a 14-0 drubbing of Oakwood and two consecutive draws to start three unbeaten, but are also in a four-match skid ceding 28 goals. The new conference member has four goal scorers with multiple tallies, led by Feleshia Brown's four and Kimberly Rigsby's three. Shamika Thomas paces the passing with three assists while Zhane Dennie chipped in two. Maria Rios-Cervantes holds the lion's-share of the netminding having played all but 12 minutes in goal. She has 44 saves to 25 goals allowed. 

Faulkner's 11 goals have yielded just two goal scorers with multiple goals: Kendall Blackmon and Ainsley Lockwood who both returned to the lineup against William Carey after missing a handful of matches. Lockwood's goal against Mobile in the fifth minute was just the third goal scored on the road against the Rams and broke a 343 minute scoreless streak dating back to Annabel Cuthbert's goal against Alabama State. Dominique Rivera leads the assist category with two. 

Cuthbert and Faith Pelletier-King could rejoin the side after some injury concerns this weekend. Pelletier-King has scored six goals and has four assists against Talladega in just 88 minutes of play, including a three goal, three assist 28 minute bench debut against the Tornadoes at home in the first matchup in 2019.

TUSSLE WITH THE TOPPERS

Senior day will feature the newest program in the SSAC Blue Mountain who is off to a strong start. Five seniors: Haley Bartell, Adamarie Moreno, Jesella Harvey, Parada and Pelletier-King will be honored before the match. 

The first-year program enters its Thursday match with Dalton State with a 4-4 record overall and 0-2 in SSAC. The Lady Toppers are led by forward Vivien Guse who's bagged 12 goals in eight matches, ranking first in the SSAC in goals per game and just one goal behind Brewton-Parker's Kadisha Martina for the lead in total goals scored. Goalkeeper Inna Vannula tops the SSAC in saves per game with an eye-popping 7.67. 

Faulkner and Blue Mountain only have one opponent in common so far: Freed-Hardeman. The Lady Eagles took a 3-0 win on the road while the Lady Toppers lost 3-2 to the Lions at home.

Despite the 10:30 start time, it is not the earliest kick the Lady Eagles have played, having twice kicked at 10 a.m. locally while in South Florida. It will, however, be the earliest kick time for Blue Mountain, being 30 minutes earlier than the previous record. 

STAKES

The results of this weekend could go a long way in determining who makes the six-team conference tournament field. Faulkner sits in a three-way tie for that final spot in the field after the first weekend of play. If the Lady Eagles can take all six points this weekend, the road to the postseason looks a lot easier, but Talladega and Blue Mountain will be looking to stake their name into the conference with a way into the tournament. 

COVERAGE

The matches will be broadcast live on the Faulkner Sports Network. Live stats will be available for both the Talladega and Blue Mountain matches. Tickets are available now.