MONTGOMERY, Ala. - Faulkner picked up a historic win Thursday night, up-ending No. 7 William Carey 2-1 with two first half goals, one proving to be a career record breaking assist and 10 saves from Andre Ferreira. The win was Faulkner's first top-10 win in program history.

William Carey got ahead first with a beautiful strike from Santiago Molina in the 21st minute, but Juan Rojas answered right back five minutes later. Leo Freire, whose father came in from Brazil to see his son play, crossed to find Rojas who redirected the ball past the NAIA National Player of the Week Jamie Berry to level it. The assist was Freire's 16th assist of his career, setting him alone atop the Faulkner career records for assists. For Rojas, it was his first goal since returning from an injury that saw him out for nearly a month. 

In the 39th minute, Faulkner scored what proved to be the match winner when Caio de Luna Gomes, who donned the captain's band for the first time in the match, crossed to Angel Ugwumba who headed the ball off the bar but followed up for his 11th goal of the season, tying him for second most goals in a season in program history.

Faulkner took a 2-1 lead into halftime, which was the same final scoreline against William Carey in 2015–the only other time the Eagles defeated the Crusaders. 

The second half belonged to Andre Ferreira. On his birthday, Ferreira made a flurry of big saves including an unreal free kick save in the 60th minute saving a knuckleball but was not out of the woods yet. William Carey saw two more shots cleared off the line by the Portuguese keeper on the ensuing corner. After the three saves in a minute frenzy, he saved five more chances, including a quick shot off a cross 10 yards out to preserve the lead and secure the legendary night. 

The Eagles secured a home game in the SSAC Men's Soccer Championship quarterfinals for next weekend and will await their final seedline and opponent to be determined over the weekend. 

Faulkner travels to Mobile to take on the Rams Saturday evening at 4 p.m. to close the regular season.  Read Full Article