PULASKI, Tenn. - Faulkner battled No. 16 UT Southern on a rain-soaked Saturday at Grissom Pitch but fell 6-0 with three goals on either side of the half from the nation's highest-scoring offense and a hat trick from the NAIA's second leading scorer.
It took just 27 seconds for the Firehawks to get ahead with a quick fire goal off the kickoff. Just into the 10th minute, the Firehawks doubled the lead and added another in the 24th. Faulkner struggled to find offense around the relentless UTS attack in the first half being outshot 17-0 while giving up eight corners.
The Lady Eagles adjusted at halftime and got a little more into the match getting three shots while holding the Firehawks to 12, but UTS was too much with three goals in the first 15 minutes of the half to rock the game to sleep. Millie Rayner scored a hat trick to lead the Firehawks who scored all six goals off of assists.
Faulkner comes home for a critical Battle of I-85 Thursday night against Point at 5 p.m. with the Lady Eagles currently tied with two other sides for eighth and the final spot in the SSAC Women's Soccer Championship field.
