THOMASVILLE, Ga. - Thomas travels to No. 13 Mobile (Ala.) on Friday. Kickoff is set for 6 p.m. ET.
"Friday's match is another terrific opportunity for our team to continue to improve and develop as we approach conference play," Green and White coach Ricky Zambrano said. "We play a difficult schedule for a reason. Mobile is an excellent team, and we'll have our hands full."
In addition to live stats, the match will be televised online through Stretch Internet. Updates will also be available on Thomas' official men's soccer Twitter account (@NightHawksMSocc).
Game 5/RV Thomas (1-3) at #13 Mobile (3-1)
Friday, Sept. 8 • 6 p.m. ET
Mobile, Ala. • The Jungle
TV: Stretch Internet
Live Stats: Stretch Internet
Twitter Updates: @NightHawksMSocc
ABOUT THOMAS
The Night Hawks are coming off a 3-2 loss at Truett McConnell (Ga.) on Sept. 8, just their third loss in the last 13 road matches.
Thomas took a 1-0 lead in the 37th minute when Sam Eyes found the back of the net. However, the Bears scored the next three goals to take a two-goal edge deep into the match.
Leo Thompson cut the Night Hawks' deficit to one goal in the 85th minute with help from Jack Chambers, but the Green and White were unable to get any closer.
Thompson and Eyes had one shot on goal apiece.
Netminder Lee Howarth recorded four stops for Thomas.
The Night Hawks held an edge in corner kicks, 6-1.
ABOUT MOBILE
Then-No. 10 Mobile defeated Saint Thomas (Texas), 2-1, at home Sept. 8.
Casey Culver, who has scored in each game this season, gave the Rams a 1-0 lead in the 65th minute with an assist by Matthew McArthur. After the Celts tied the match in the 73rd minute, Newton Henry scored the game-winner in the 85th minute with help from John Jacob Plumbar.
Mobile was outshot 12-8, and 31 total fouls along with four cautions were given to each team.
Culver ranks 32nd in the NAIA in goals per game (1.0). Goalkeeper Guilherme Altoe is 41st in fewest goals against per game (1.0).
LAST TIME OUT AGAINST THE RAMS
Thomas defeated Mobile, 1-0, at TU Soccer Complex on Sept. 14, 2016.
Severin Abt netted the lone goal in the 80th minute off a free kick from just outside the 18-yard box, bending the shot over a wall of defenders before finding the left side of the goal.
The Night Hawks outshot the Rams, 17-9, and held an edge in corner kicks, 5-1.
Howarth made three saves in the win.
EVEN SERIES
Thomas and Mobile have split the last four matchups. The Night Hawks defeated the Rams 1-0 in 2016 and 4-1 in 2012 but lost 3-2 and 2-1 in 2015 and 2013, respectively.
LOOKING TO END A SKID
Thomas is looking to end a four-match losing streak at Mobile dating back to 2003. The Night Hawks last won at Mobile, 1-0, on Sept. 14, 2003.
THOMAS IN 22ND SEASON
The 2017 campaign marks the 22nd in the history of Thomas men's soccer.
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.
ZAMBRANO AT THE HELM
In his 17th season as a collegiate head coach and 13th at the helm of Thomas, Zambrano is 171-113-20 overall, including 124-83-17 with the Night Hawks. He has the most wins in Thomas history.
NATIONAL RECOGNITION
Thomas is receiving votes for the latest NAIA Men's Soccer Coaches' Top 25 Poll. The Night Hawks have been ranked in the top 25 in 11 of the last 12 polls and in 36 of the last 41 dating back to 2013.
AMONG THE BEST IN THE NAIA
Thomas ranks 43rd in the NAIA in fewest goals allowed per game (2.5).
Individually, Thompson is 23rd in the country in goals per game (1.3) and 36th in points per game (2.5). Howarth ranks 40th in saves per match (5.7).
SUCCESS AGAINST TOP 25
Thomas is unbeaten in six of its last eight regular-season matches against ranked opponents and has won its last two road games against ranked foes.
ROAD WARRIORS
The Night Hawks have won 10 of their last 13 road matches.
DAUNTING SCHEDULE
Seven of Thomas' opponents rank in the latest top 25 – No. 11 Georgia Gwinnett, No. 13 Mobile, No. 14 Lindsey Wilson (Ky.), No. 16 Vanguard (Calif.), No. 17 Bryan (Tenn.), No. 18 Saint Thomas (Fla.) and No. 19 Dalton State. Two others - Johnson & Wales (Fla.) and Keiser (Fla.) - are receiving votes. The Night Hawks are 0-1 against the top 25 this season, having lost to then-No. 11 Bryan. Thomas is 1-2 against the current top 25, having defeated Vanguard but lost to Bryan and Dalton State.
Four of those opponents - Bryan, Georgia Gwinnett, Saint Thomas, Keiser - reached the NAIA National Championship last season, with Keiser advancing to the second round. The Night Hawks' clash with Georgia Gwinnett on Oct. 17 at Columbus State (Ga.) is a rematch of last season's National Championship opening round contest won by Thomas in overtime.
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.
