THOMASVILLE, Ga. - No. 12 Thomas opens its 2017 campaign Saturday when the Night Hawks welcome No. 11 Bryan (Tenn.) to TU Soccer Complex. Kickoff is set for Noon ET, and admission is free.
"We are excited about opening up against a quality opponent," Thomas coach Ricky Zambrano said. "They will help us figure out where we stand in this early part of the season. I know the guys are excited to get the season going."
In addition to live stats, the match will be televised online through Stretch Internet. Updates will be available on Thomas' official men's soccer Twitter account (@NightHawksMSocc).
Saturday's match is the first ever Sun Conference Men's Soccer Game of the Week in addition to Men's Soccer Rally Day. Starting at 11:45 a.m., the first 25 Thomas fans inside the gate at TU Soccer Complex will receive a complimentary TU Student Life t-shirt courtesy of the Thomas University Student Life and Campus Activities Board. Complimentary 2017 Thomas men's soccer schedule posters will also be available prior to kickoff.
Game 1/#11 Bryan (1-0) at #12 Thomas (0-0)
Saturday, Aug. 26 • 12 p.m. ET
Thomasville, Ga. • TU Soccer Complex
Promotions: The Sun Conference Game of the Week, Men's Soccer Rally Day
TV: Stretch Internet
Live Stats:Â Stretch Internet
Twitter Updates:Â @NightHawksMSocc
ABOUT THOMAS
Thomas topped the 2017 Sun Conference men's soccer preseason coaches' poll for a third-straight year Aug. 8.
Zambrano's squad returns 10 players who started at least one game a year ago and 19 that contributed significant minutes.
Zambrano's group won its first Sun Conference title in 2016 with a 15-4-2 overall record and 7-2 conference mark, ranking 21st nationally in shutouts, 34th in goals and 50th in shots per game. The Night Hawks tied a school record with 15 wins a season ago and have won 15 in three of the last four seasons.
ABOUT BRYAN
The Lions, who lost only one game before postseason play in 2016, opened their season Thursday with a 5-1 win at home over Bob Jones (S.C.).
Bryan led 3-0 at halftime. Charlie Clarke scored in the fourth minute with an assist by Jonathan Ricketts. Joe Goreham scored in the 12th minute off an assist by Dino Jones. Reigning Appalachian Athletic Conference Freshman of the Year Brad Spooner found the back of the net to close scoring in the first 45 minutes.Â
Spooner's second goal of the match came early in the second half with an assist by Kevin Roenpage to make the score 4-0.Â
After the Bruins scored their lone goal in the match in the 81st minute, the Lions pushed the margin back to four when Keith Lyons scored on an assist by Jordan Lopez.
Bryan goalkeeper Alex Horton went through 74 scoreless minutes before Alejandro Toro took the reigns for the final 15.
Bryan outshot Bob Jones, 27-1.Â
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 34-11-3 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
Entering his 17th season as a collegiate head coach and 13th at the helm of Thomas, Zambrano is 170-110-20 overall, including 123-80-17 with the Night Hawks. He is already the all-time winningest coach at Thomas.
NATIONAL RECOGNITION
The Night Hawks have been ranked in the top 25 for 10-consecutive weeks and in 35 of the last 39 polls dating back to 2013. Thomas' No. 12 preseason ranking is the second highest preseason mark in program history.
SUCCESS AGAINST TOP 25
Thomas is unbeaten in its last five matches against ranked opponents during the regular season and has not lost in six of the last seven such instances.
STARTING OFF STRONG
Thomas has won three-straight season openers and is 7-0-2 in its last nine games in the month of August.
HOME SWEET HOME
The Night Hawks are unbeaten in 10 of their last 11 games at TU Soccer Complex.
HOWARTH'SÂ BRILLIANCE IN NET
Thomas netminder Lee Howarth ranked 26th in the NAIA in 2016 in fewest goals allowed per game (0.88).
TOP 25 OPPONENTS
Three of Thomas' 2017 opponents rank in the preseason top 25 – No. 11 Bryan, No. 21 Georgia Gwinnett and No. 23 Lindsey Wilson (Ky.). Four others - Saint Thomas (Fla.), Vanguard (Calif.), Dalton State (Ga.) and Reinhardt (Ga.) - are receiving votes.
The first four Night Hawk opponents, who all travel to TU Soccer Complex, and five of the first six, all in non-conference action, are either ranked in the top 25 or are receiving votes, giving Zambrano's squad one of the most difficult 18-game schedules in the country.
OPPONENTS THAT MADE 2016 NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP
The Night Hawks face three opponents - Bryan, Georgia Gwinnett and Saint Thomas - who reached the NAIA National Championship last season.Â
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.
