THOMASVILLE, Ga. -  No. 3-seed Thomas hosts No. 6-seed Johnson & Wales (Fla.) on Saturday at TU Soccer Complex in The Sun Conference (TSC) Men's Soccer Championship quarterfinals, presented by Commerce Bank. Kickoff is set for Noon ET.
In addition to live stats, the match will be televised online through Night Hawks Television. Updates will also be available on Thomas' official men's soccer Twitter account (@NightHawksMSocc).
The Sun Conference Men's Soccer Championship Quarterfinals, presented by Commerce Bank
Game 17/No. 6-seed Johnson & Wales (7-5-2) at No. 3-seed Thomas (7-7-2)
Saturday, Nov. 4 • 12 p.m. ET
Thomasville, Ga. • TU Soccer Complex
TV:Â Night Hawks Television
Live Stats:Â Night Hawks Television
Twitter Updates:Â @NightHawksMSocc
ABOUT THOMAS
The Night Hawks are coming off a 5-0 home win over Florida Memorial on Oct. 28 to conclude conference play.
Saturday's clean sheet was the fourth for the Night Hawks this season. Goalkeeper Lee Howarth made the start and had two saves in the first half. Ben Barnes played the final 45 minutes between the pipes.
Offensively, coach Ricky Zambrano's team dominated, outshooting Florida Memorial 30-14, including 14-2 on frame.
Salvador Marin scored the first of his two goals in the 22nd minute. A Malcom Frago Mayers pass to Leo Thompson was sent into the box to Marin, whose header beat Lion netminder Gabriel Mateucci. Thompson's second assist of the match came in the 27th minute on a feed to Gavin Rochford-Smith, whose one-timer from six yards out made the score 2-0. Billy Jeffery concluded the first-period scoring in the 42nd minute on a successful penalty kick following a Mateucci take down of Frago Mayers inside the box.
Richard Slaney scored his first collegiate goal in the 72nd minute on a penalty kick after Mateucci picked up a red card for another take down inside the box, this time of Sam Eyes on a breakaway.
Thomas played with a man advantage for the final 18:14.
Marin finished the scoring in the 84th minute following passes from Eyes and Joao Victor Felix.
Marin totaled four shots on goal.
The Night Hawks held an edge in corner kicks, 6-4.
ABOUT JOHNSON & WALES
The Wildcats are coming off a 0-0 tie in two overtimes against Warner (Fla.) on Oct. 30Â to conclude TSC play.
Originally scheduled for Oct. 28, the contest was moved to Monday due to inclement weather from Tropical Storm Philippe.
The Wildcats were outshot, 16-15, but held an edge in corner kicks, 9-4.
LAST TIME OUT AGAINST THE WILDCATS
Thomas tied Johnson & Wales, 1-1, in double overtime on the road on Oct. 21.
Jonas Bukh gave Johnson & Wales a 1-0 lead in the 49th minute following a Thomas turnover in its own third of the field, but a Frago Mayers to Thompson connection tied the contest with 2:30 to play in regulation.
Thompson poured in a game-high seven shots. Thompson and Rochford-Smith each had three shots on goal.
Patricio Rolon recorded two shots on goal for the Wildcats.
Howarth made five saves in 110 minutes.
Johnson & Wales netminder J.C. Diego turned in seven stops in 110 minutes.
Thomas outshot the home team, 15-14.
Each squad was whistled for two cautions.
THOMAS IN TSC TOURNAMENT
Thomas has hosted at least one home match in The Sun Conference Tournament in each of the last six years.
The Night Hawks are 3-1 at home in the quarterfinal round, having won three-straight.
SERIES HISTORY
A win Saturday would move the Night Hawks to 6-0-1 all-time against the Wildcats.
WINNER ADVANCES TO TSC TOURNAMENT SEMIFINALS
The winner of Saturday's Night Hawks/Wildcats game travels to No. 2-seed Keiser (Fla.), which is receiving votes in the latest NAIA top 25, on Tuesday, Nov. 7, in the conference tournament semifinals.
TSC Tournament Central
FINISHING STRONG
Thomas finished conference play 4-0-1 and found its groove offensively, outscoring opponents 17-5.
FOUR IN A ROW
A win Saturday would give Thomas its fourth-straight home win.
SUDDEN DEATH
Following the Oct. 21 tie at Johnson & Wales, Zambrano's group improved to 9-0-4 in its last 13 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 38-12-5 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 177-117-22 overall, including 130-87-19 with the Night Hawks. He has the most wins as a coach in Thomas history.
NAIA STATISTICAL RANKINGS
Thomas ranks 38th in the NAIA in assists per game (2.1).
Thompson ranks 11th in the NAIA in shots per game (4.5), 32nd in assists (8), 35th in points per game (2.0), 39th in shots on goal per game (2.1) and 46th in goals (12).
DAUNTING SCHEDULE
Six of Thomas' original opponents rank in the latest NAIA top 25 – No. 7 Lindsey Wilson (Ky.), No. 9 Mobile (Ala.), No. 10 Georgia Gwinnett, No. 11 Vanguard (Calif.), No. 13 Saint Thomas (Fla.) and No. 20 Dalton State (Ga.). Two others - Bryan (Tenn.) and Keiser - are receiving votes. Thomas defeated Vanguard on Aug. 28, and its match against Lindsey Wilson on Sept. 2 ended in a no contest due to inclement weather.
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.
