THOMASVILLE, Ga. - Thomas seeks its sixth-straight win over Ave Maria (Fla.) when the Night Hawks begin The Sun Conference (TSC) play on the road Saturday. Kickoff is set for Noon ET.

"Ave (Maria) is a tough place to play, and we face a tough challenge with our TSC opener," Thomas coach Ricky Zambrano said. "We must be able to match their strong will, determination and passion. This will be a challenge we must be ready for."

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 7/Thomas (2-4, 0-0 TSC) at Ave Maria (1-4-1, 0-1 TSC)
Saturday, Sept. 23 • 12 p.m. ET
Ave Maria, Fla. • AMU Soccer Field
TV: Stretch Internet
Live Stats: Stretch Internet
Twitter Updates: @NightHawksMSocc

ABOUT THOMAS

The Night Hawks are coming off a 4-0 win over Middle Georgia State on Monday at TU Soccer Complex, their fourth-straight win in the series which also ended a three-game losing streak overall.

Thomas has outscored Middle Georgia State 11-2 during its current win streak in the series. 

Four different Night Hawks found the back of the net, including three for the first time this year.

Leo Thompson picked up two assists in the win. Thompson has recorded at least one point in six-straight matches.

Jack Chambers beat Knight goalkeeper Benjamin Pelz in the fourth minute following a Thompson cross into the box to open the scoring. A Logan Moriarty cross into the box found the right foot of Sam Eyes, who tickled the twine from five yards out in the 17th minute for a 2-0 Thomas edge. Gavin Rochford-Smith put his name in the scoring column in the 32nd minute following a blast from 25 yards out.

Salvador Marin finished off the scoring in the 71st minute after corralling a long pass from Thompson and beating a Middle Georgia State defender and Pelz from eight yards away.

Thompson totaled three shots on goal.

Netminder Ben Barnes, making his second start this season, earned his fourth-career clean sheet after making three saves in 90 minutes. Barnes improves to 2-0 all-time against the Knights.

Thomas outshot the Knights, 16-8.

ABOUT AVE MARIA

The Gyrenes are coming off a 4-0 loss at No. 18 Saint Thomas (Fla.) on Wednesday to open league play.

Ave Maria trailed 1-0 in the second minute before allowing three second-half goals in the 53rd, 80th and 87th minutes.
 
Netminder Andrea Salomone made seven saves for the Gyrenes.

Ave Maria was outshot 11-1, as Hernando Valencia-Parra took the only shot for the Gyrenes.

Saint Thomas took eight corners compared to three by AMU.

Ave Maria has lost three-straight overall and been outscored 13-3 during the span.

The Gyrenes have been outscored 23-8 this season. Kensley Jean Baptiste leads the squad with three goals.

Ave Maria ranks 12th in the NAIA in most goals allowed per game (3.8) and 46th in saves per game (5.8).

Salomone is 48th nationally in saves per match (5.2).

LAST TIME OUT AGAINST THE GYRENES

No. 4 Thomas defeated Ave Maria, 5-0, at AMU Soccer Field on Oct. 13, 2016.

Jarrod Ingram recorded his second hat trick of the season.

Ingram netted the first goal in the 12th minute with an assist from Antonio Rodriguez. Jonathan Lopez extended the lead in the 21st minute off a pass from Ingram.

Ingram completed the hat trick with goals in the 22nd and 35th minutes.

Andres Payne completed the scoring in the 51st minute with an assist from Severin Abt.

Goalkeeper Lee Howarth recorded one save in the shutout.
 
WINNING TIME

Thomas is looking to improve to 6-0 all-time against the Gyrenes on Saturday, having outscored their counterparts 18-3 in five previous matchups.

PERFECT 10

Thomas has outscored Ave Maria 10-0 in three prior games at AMU Soccer Field.

SWEEP

Thompson and Howarth were named The Sun Conference Men's Soccer Offensive and Defensive Players of the Week, respectively, on Monday. Thompson earned the honor for the first time in his career, while Howarth garnered the award for the second time in two seasons.

Thompson scored Thomas's lone tally at No. 13 Mobile (Ala.) on Sept. 15. 

Howarth recorded six saves against the Rams.

THOMPSON GOES STREAKING

Following his two assists in Monday's win over Middle Georgia State, Thompson has scored at least one point in six-straight matches.

THREE IS COMPANY

At least one Night Hawk has recorded a hat trick against Ave Maria in two of the last three seasons.

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 172-114-20 overall, including 125-84-17 with the Night Hawks. He has the most wins in Thomas history.

NATIONAL RECOGNITION

The Night Hawks have been ranked in the top 25 in 11 of the last 13 polls and in 36 of the last 42 dating back to 2013. 

STARTING STRONG

Thomas is 5-0 in TSC openers, including three wins over the Gyrenes from 2012-14.

NAIA STATISTICAL RANKINGS

Thompson is 13th in the NAIA in shots per game (4.8), 29th in goals per game (1.0) and 30th in points per game (2.3). Howarth ranks 35th in saves per match (5.8).

SUCCESS AGAINST TOP 25

Thomas is unbeaten in six of its last nine regular-season matches against ranked opponents.

HOME SWEET HOME

Zambrano's group is 33-9-2 in Thomasville since 2013.

ROAD WARRIORS

The Night Hawks have won 10 of their last 14 road matches.

DAUNTING SCHEDULE

Seven of Thomas' opponents rank in the latest NAIA top 25 – No. 8 Georgia Gwinnett, No. 9 Mobile (Ala.), No. 10 Lindsey Wilson (Ky.), No. 15 Dalton State, (Ga.), No. 17 Vanguard (Calif.), No. 18 Saint Thomas (Fla.) and No. 23 Bryan (Tenn.). One other - Johnson & Wales (Fla.) - is receiving votes. The Night Hawks are 0-2 against the top 25 this season, having lost to then-No. 11 Bryan and then-No. 13 Mobile (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 1-3 against the current top 25, having defeated Vanguard but lost to Bryan, Dalton State and Mobile.

Three of those opponents - Bryan, Georgia Gwinnett and Saint Thomas - reached the NAIA National Championship last season. 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.