THOMASVILLE, Ga. - Thomas returns to Sun Conference (TSC) play Saturday and travels south looking for its sixth-straight win over Johnson & Wales (Fla.), which is receiving votes in the latest NAIA top 25. Kickoff is set for 2 p.m. ET.
In addition to live stats, the match will be televised online through Stretch Internet.
Game 13/Thomas (5-7-1, 3-2-1 TSC) at (RV) Johnson & Wales (7-4, 4-2 TSC)
Saturday, Oct. 21 • 2 p.m. ET
Miami Shores, Fla. • Miami Shores Village
TV: Stretch Internet
Live Stats:Â Stretch Internet
ABOUT THOMAS
The Night Hawks are coming off a 1-0 loss to then-No. 5 Georgia Gwinnett on Tuesday in non-conference play at Columbus State's (Ga.) Walden Soccer Complex. The Night Hawks, minus two starters in the match, fell to 3-3 all-time against the Grizzlies.
The Grizzlies scored in the 77th minute.
Leo Thompson totaled a game-high four shots for Thomas, including two on net. Malcom Frago Mayers and Jose Carlos Gonzalez Avellaneda had one shot on goal apiece.
Netminder Lee Howarth had two saves in 90 minutes for the Night Hawks.
ABOUT JOHNSON & WALES
The Wildcats are coming off a 4-0 loss at NCAA Division II member Barry (Fla.) on Tuesday in non-conference action, their second-straight defeat.
Barry broke the scoreless tie in the 15th minute and added goals in the 36th, 52nd and 70th minutes.
The Wildcats were outshot 18-11, including 10-2 in shots on goal.
Julio Soto and Gregory McDoom are tied for the team lead in goals with five.
LAST TIME OUT AGAINST THE WILDCATS
No. 11 Thomas collected a 2-1 overtime win over Johnson & Wales on Oct. 27, 2016, at TU Soccer Complex.Â
Jarrod Ingram scored both goals for the Night Hawks.
McDoom put the Wildcats up in the fourth minute, but Ingram scored the equalizer in the 43rd minute with an assist from Juan Figueroa.
Ingram scored the game-winning goal in the 95th minute.Â
Howarth generated two saves in between the pipes for the Green and White in 94:51.
The Night Hawks outshot the Wildcats, 21-12, and held an edge in corner kicks, 8-0.
SERIES HISTORY
Thomas is a perfect 5-0 against Johnson & Wales, having outscored its counterpart a combined 20-6, although the margin of victory has shrunk in each matchup.
Jesper Svall is the only current Night Hawk to have scored a goal against the Wildcats, having done so in 2015.
PLAYOFF POSITIONING
With only three games remaining in the regular season, Saturday's contest is pivotal for both teams as they vie for seeding for the upcoming league tournament. The Night Hawks, currently tied for fourth place in the conference, trail the Wildcats by a half game for second in the standings. Johnson & Wales is tied with Keiser (Fla.), while the Night Hawks are tied with Southeastern (Fla.) and Warner (Fla.). The winner of Saturday's contest in North Miami will own the head-to-head tiebreaker. Keiser has the head-to-head tiebreaker with Thomas, which has the upper hand with Warner. Thomas travels to Southeastern on Wednesday, Oct. 25.
| School |
TSC |
| Saint Thomas (Fla.) |
6-0 |
| Johnson & Wales (Fla.) |
4-2 |
| Keiser (Fla.) |
4-2 |
| Southeastern (Fla.) |
3-2-1 |
| Thomas |
3-2-1 |
| Warner (Fla.) |
3-2-1 |
| SCAD Savannah (Ga.) |
3-3 |
| Ave Maria (Fla.) |
1-3-2 |
| Webber International (Fla.) |
0-5-1 |
| Florida Memorial |
0-5 |
SUDDEN DEATH
Following the Oct. 11Â overtime win over SCAD Savannah (Ga.), Zambrano's group improved to 9-0-3 in their last 12 games that have gone into extra time.
THOMAS IN 22NDÂ SEASONÂ
The 2017 campaign marks the 22nd in the history of Thomas men's soccer.Â
The Night Hawks have reached the NAIA National Championship three times (2013, 2014, 2016) in the last four seasons and are coming off a second round appearance in 2016. Thomas is 1-2-1 all-time in the tournament.
Thomas has been a member of The Sun Conference since 2012 and is 36-12-4 in league play. The Night Hawks won The Sun Conference Tournament championship in 2013 and 2014 and the league's regular-season title in 2016.
ZAMBRANOÂ AT THE HELM
In his 17th season as a collegiate head coach and 13th at the helm of Thomas, Zambrano is 175-117-21 overall, including 128-87-18 with the Night Hawks. He has the most wins as a coach in Thomas history.
ROAD WARRIORS
The Night Hawks have won 11Â of their last 17Â road matches.
NAIA STATISTICAL RANKINGS
Thompson ranks 32nd in the NAIA in shots per game (3.9) and 50th in assists (6).
DAUNTING SCHEDULE
Seven of Thomas' original opponents rank in the latest NAIA top 25 – No. 5 Georgia Gwinnett, No. 9 Mobile (Ala.), No. 11 Lindsey Wilson (Ky.), No. 12 Vanguard (Calif.), No. 15 Saint Thomas, No. 19 Dalton State (Ga.) and No. 21 Truett McConnell (Ga.). Three others - Keiser, Bryan (Tenn.) and Johnson & Wales - are receiving votes. The Night Hawks are 0-4 against the top 25 this season, having lost to then-No. 5 Georgia Gwinnett, then-No. 11 Bryan, then-No. 13 Mobile and then-No. 17 Saint Thomas (the home match against then-No. 23 Lindsey Wilson was suspended in the second half due to lightning with the game tied at two). Thomas is 1-5 against the current top 25, having defeated Vanguard but lost to Dalton State, Truett McConnell, Mobile, Saint Thomas and Georgia Gwinnett.
Four of those opponents - Keiser, Bryan, Georgia Gwinnett, Saint Thomas - reached the NAIA National Championship last season, with Keiser advancing to the second round.
INTERNATIONAL PRESENCE
Zambrano's group is represented by 16 countries on this year's roster - the United States, England, Sweden, Ireland, Wales, Brazil, Costa Rica, Germany, Italy, Canada, Spain, El Salvador, Zimbabwe, New Zealand, Bolivia and Australia.
