MONTGOMERY, Ala. - There are millions of sports fans who spend hours studying statistics after events. These same sports lovers can usually tell you why one team won and the other suffered a defeat.

That was far from being the case in Lee's SSAC soccer defeat at Faulkner University on Saturday night. The Flames outshot the Eagles by 19-12. They placed 12 shots on goal while Faulkner only put five on target. Lee was awarded 10 corner kicks and the Eagles none.

So-called experts would have leveled it a clear-cut mark in the win category for the visitors, but it was Faulkner that found a way to celebrate a 2-0 victory. The loss drops the Flames to 7-6-1 overall and 3-5 in the important conference standings. The Eagles are 2-5-1 in the SSAC race and 4-9-1 overall

Faulkner took a 1-0 lead at the half-way mark when Esolam Kpemoua's goal was assisted by Stephane Kanghah. The final score of the match came nine minutes into the second half (54:00) and as a result of a penalty kick by Didier Atse. Eagles' keeper Pritchard Ndiara had 12 saves in the win and Lee's Tom Halsall registered five.

It was the second straight defeat for the Flames. They will have one week to regroup and get prepared for another tough SSAC clash on Saturday. Southern Wesleyan University will visit the Lee Soccer Field for the 4 p.m. kickoff.