THOMASVILLE – The Thomas University men's soccer team will step out of conference on Friday to take on the Georgia Gwinnett Grizzlies (7-3-3) on a neutral field in Columbus, Ga.  The match should prove to be a stout test for the Night Hawks, who will have had six full days of recovery since the team's last match, which is tied for the longest break TU has had since Sun Conference play began.
 
Despite losing to Southeastern 1-0 on Oct. 17, the Night Hawks have won seven times in their last nine matches, and the team's defense has looked more and more reliable as conference play has drawn on.
 
Since Oct. 3, Thomas has allowed just six goals in five matches, and opponents have scored more than one goal just one time.
 
The Grizzlies, despite some familiar faces from last season's side that went 12-3-2, have not been as sound defensively in 2015, as the team has conceded 21 goals in 13 matches (1.62 goals per match) after allowing just 15 goals in 17 matches last season (0.88).
 
Georgia Gwinnett has, however, been able to win matches by outscoring the opposition, thanks to an evenly-balanced scoring attack that boasts seven players with three goals or more.  The Grizzlies are led in scoring by Matt Redgrave and Jon Conner, who each have five goals.
 
All-Conference keeper Lewis Sharpe, who ranked an impressive 16th in the nation in goals allowed last season, is in charge of net for the Grizzlies, who have won two matches in a row.
 
Despite some defensive struggles, Georgia Gwinnett figures to be one of the more talented sides that the Night Hawks will face all season.  The Grizzlies were ranked as high as ninth in the nation at one point last season en route to winning the A.I.I Conference title for the second consecutive year.
 
Returning to form before postseason play begins will be important for the Night Hawks, but the Oct. 17 defeat versus Southeastern was likely an anomaly, as Thomas failed to score a goal for the first time all season.  Additionally, TU took 15 more shots than its opponent, but failed to manufacture enough quality chances to equalize despite several late efforts.
 
The defense of Friday's opponent has been exploitable, however, providing Severin Abt, Lyle Gifford and Eric Persson, among others, the opportunity to find the back of the net. 
 
Thomas scored three goals or more in three consecutive matches before the 1-0 defeat.
 
After Friday's match, which is scheduled to begin at 6:00 p.m., the Night Hawks will return Thomasville for the regular season finale with SCAD-Savannah at the Remington Park Soccer Complex.  The Oct. 28 matchup with the Bees could provide the Night Hawks with the opportunity to lock up a top three seed for the TSC tournament, which will begin on Nov. 3.
 
For up-to-date information on this game and other TU Athletics, visit http://www.TUNightHawks.com. Stay up-to-date with news, scores, photos, game summaries, play-by-play, and feature stories of your TU men's soccer team by following them via Twitter at @NightHawksMSocc.