"Mandy is a fine representative of this program", said TU head coach Ricky Zambrano. "She works extremely hard in the classroom and sets a great example as part of the leadership of this program".

The Lady Night Hawks have begun their spring conditioning in preparation for the 2007 season. TU will kick off their 2007 season at home on August 25 as they host NCAA DII foe Georgia College & State University at 2PM.

Sophomore midfielder Mandy Ballinger was named to the 2006 NAIA All Region 14 soccer team. Mandy was one of 14 players honored and becomes the first Lady Night Hawk soccer player awarded this honor in the history of the program. TU is in it's second year as a member of Region 14, all it's previous selection's had been as members of region 13.

Ballinger, a team captain, is from West Greenwich, RI and is majoring in Business. Since joining the Lady Night Hawks in 2005 she has started all 33 games she has played in. "I am extremely proud of her for this accomplishment", said TU head coach Ricky Zambrano. "Any time one of your players gets recognized for a post season award it is not only a tribute to that player but also to their teammates".

The Lady Night Hawks have begun their spring conditioning in preparation for the 2007 season. TU will kick off their 2007 season at home on August 25 as they host NCAA DII foe Georgia College & State University at 2PM.

The Lady Night Hawks(4-12-1) dropped their regular season finale at the hands of William Carey University Crusaders(12-6) by a 3-0 margin.

TU traveled to Hattiesburg, MS to face the Crusaders in need of a 3 goal victory and some other favorable results by their opponents, to have an opportunity to qualify for post season play. The Lady Night Hawks pushed forward with an offensive game plan the whole game and missed some opportunities early that could have changed the game. Both teams were even with corner kicks and combined for 21 shots.

"This was game that was all or nothing", said TU head coach Ricky Zambrano. "We needed to win by a three goal margin to even have a chance at a regional bid, so we pushed forward and knew that we would expose ourselves defensively. It was a matter of scoring the goals but the ball did not fall."

The loss ends the regular season for the Lady Night Hawks and after a couple of weeks off TU will get back to work with their off season conditioning program.

Thomas University women's soccer(4-11-1) lost to NCAA DII Georgia College & State University Bobcats(6-6-4) by a score of 2-0 on Sunday afternoon in Milledgeville, GA.

The Lady Night Hawks gave up the first goal at the 21st minute mark of the first half and then allowed an insurance goal by the Bobcats in the second minute of the second half. TU had some chances late in the second half but was unable to capitalize on any.

"It was pretty good team effort", said TU assistant coach Emer McAuley. "We did not do a good job defending when they scored their first goal, we did not make them earn it. I was very proud that we fought till the end."

Thomas is seeking a bid for the NAIA Region 14 tournament and will travel to Hattiesburg, MS trying to come home with a victory that could secure a spot in the tournament. The Lady Night Hawks must win first and then will await their destiny for a tournament bid.

The Lady Night Hawks(4-10-1) put forth a valiant effort on Friday afternoon at the Wendy's Soccer Complex but fell short 2-1 against the visiting King College Tornados(10-5).

TU fell behind 1-0 with nine minutes left in the first half but was able to tie the game before the half when freshman Ashley McDaniel finished a ball served in off a free kick by sophomore Mandy Ballinger. Thomas gave up the eventual game winning goal seven minutes into the second half and was unable to retie the game although they created some dangerous opportunities the rest of the half.

"We played hard today and left everything on the field", said TU head coach Ricky Zambrano. "I am so happy for Ashleigh, she has been giving everything in every game and really earned her goal."

The Lady Night Hawks will next take to the field on Sunday Oct 20 at 4PM as they travel to Milledgeville, FL to take on NCAA DII Georgia College & State University.

NAIA region 14 foe Embry Riddle University(8-1) soared to 6-1 victory of the TU women's soccer team(4-9-1) on Saturday afternoon at the Wendy Soccer Complex during the 52nd annual Thomas University Homecoming celebration.

The lone Lady Night hawks goal came when freshman Amanda Graham struck a long distance shot that was saved by the ERU keeper but the officials ruled the ball had crossed the line. Embry Riddle scored four goals in the opening half and then two more in the second half to put the game away.

"Our shape behind the ball hurt us today", said TU head coach Ricky Zambrano. "We did not execute our game plan in the first half and we paid the price. I was very proud that regardless of the score we played very hard the final forty five minutes."

TU will host King College on Friday October 20 at 4:30 pm for the final regular season home game of the year.

NCAA DII #9 University of West Florida Argonauts(9-2-2) used four second half goals to separate from the Thomas University Lady Night Hawks(4-8-1) and coast to a 5-0 win on Tuesday afternoon at Remington Park in the 1st Annual Thomasville College Soccer Game Night sponsored by Thomas Area Soccer Association (TASA) and the YMCA.

After holding the Argonauts to only one goal in the first half with a solid team defensive effort, TU was outmatched in the second half. UWF scored four goals on thirteen shots in the second. The Lady Night Hawks did create some dangerous opportunities late in the second half when sophomore Naama Wolf struck two back to back long distance shots and nearly found the back of the Argonauts net.

"West Florida is a great team and will compete for a NCAA DII national championship", said TU head coach Ricky Zambrano. "During the first half our girls stuck to the game plan and accomplished what we set out to do. We just are not deep enough to compete with a team of their caliber for ninety minutes."

The Lady Night Hawks are back home on Saturday October 14 at 4:30pm as they welcome NAIA region 14 foe Embry Riddle University to the Wendy's Soccer Complex for the 2006 Homecoming Game.

Freshman Melanie Phillips scored the game winner for the Thomas University Lady Night Hawks(4-7-1) with fourteen minutes remaining in the second half to help defeat NAIA region 14 foe Warner Southern College Royals(2-8) on Sunday afternoon.

TU created many opportunities during the whole game out shooting Warner 22-11 and creating four corner kicks while not allowing any. It was not till the end of the game that Thomas was able to find the net when Phillips finished a far post shot off of a flick on by freshman Laura Hoey. Freshman Brittany Wilkinson recorded the shutout in the net for the Lady Night Hawks.

"We once again created a lot of scoring opportunities but just could not put more of them away", said TU head coach Ricky Zambrano. "I am very proud in the level of competition that we put out today, the ladies did not quit."

Thomas will next face NCAA DII #10 University of West Florida(8-2-2) at 5PM in the 1st annual Thomasville College Soccer Game Night hosted by Thomas Area Soccer Association (TASA) and the YMCA at Remington Park.

TU(3-7-1) out shot the host Brewton Parker College Lady Barons(2-11) 18-4 but came up short, losing by a final of 2-1.

Thomas fell behind 1-0 mid way thru the first half after having controlled most of the play. Late in the first, the Lady Night Hawks equalized when freshman Melanie Phillips finished a service from freshman Laura Hoey to take a 1-1 tie into half time.  In the second TU once again controlled most of the play but were unable to find the net. With two minutes left in the game a Lady Barons forward broke free behind the TU back line and finished the game winning goal.

"Today was a very disappointing performance", said TU head coach Ricky Zambrano. "I did not feel that we competed hard enough to win, we were not focused. Today's performance is my fault we have not been executing well enough at practice. That will change."

The Lady Night Hawks are back at home on Sunday October 8  at 2PM as they host Warner Southern College in a NAIA Region 14 match up.

A goal mid way thru the first half was enough to propel the visiting NCAA DII North Georgia College & State University Saints(7-4-1) over the Thomas University Lady Night Hawks(3-6-1).

TU had some early chances but could not find the net and trailed 1-0 at the half. In the second the Lady Night Hawks once again had opportunities to tie the game and missed the frame. Late in the second half the Saints got some insurance with two more goals to increase their lead to three.

"We have got to finish our opportunities", said TU head coach Ricky Zambrano. "Our lack of an ability to put chances away is the difference in this game. If we put away early scoring opportunities, this is a different game.

The Lady Night Hawks will be on the road this week as they travel to Mt. Vernon, GA to face Brewton Parker College on Wednesday October 4 at 3PM.

The Lady Night Hawks(3-5-1) and the Webber International University Warriors(1-5-1) battled for 110 minutes to a 1-1 tie on Friday afternoon at the Wendy's Soccer Complex.

In the first half both teams exchanged some dangerous scoring opportunities but at the 36 minute mark, Thomas fell behind 1-0 when Webber capitalized on  TU's inability to clear a free kick service out of the box. Down by one in the second the Lady Night Hawks had many coring opportunities but could not finish them. At the 26 minute mark freshman Laura Hoey found the back of Webber's net with a long range shot that sailed over the head of the WIU keeper to equalize the game. Thomas kept the pressure on but could not get the game winner in regulation or overtime.

"I thought we battled hard but was not overly pleased with our play", said TU head coach Ricky Zambrano. "We did not do a good enough job of moving the ball. I thought in the second half and over time we did push them to the limit".

TU will next host NCAA DII North Georgia College & State University on Saturday September 30 at the Wendy's Soccer Complex. Kick off is set for 4:30pm.

TU women's soccer(3-5) survived a gritty performance by the Georgia Southwestern University Hurricanes for a 1-0 golden goal double overtime victory in Americus, GA.

The Lady Night Hawks out shot GSW 18-7 but were not able to find the back of the net till the second overtime, that was when freshman Laura Hoey received a ball in behind the Hurricane defense and stuck the ball far post past the outstretched hands of the GSW keeper for the game winner. TU had plenty of chances throughout the game, especially on corner kicks where the Lady Night Hawks had an advantage of 16-1 in the game. A solid defensive performance gave TU their second shutout of the year. Freshman goalkeeper Brittany Wilkinson secured the Lady Night Hawks goal.

"We created a lot of opportunities", said TU head coach Ricky Zambrano. "Our finishing must improve drastically, today we should have put a a lot more balls in the back of the net. A game like today can come back and hurt us for regional tournament qualification, to many missed opportunities".

Thomas will be back on the field on Friday September 29 at 4:30pm as they host NAIA region 14 foe Webber International University at the Wendy's Soccer Complex.

The visiting Savannah College of Art & Design Lady Bees(5-2) stung the Lady Night Hawks on Sunday afternoon 3-0.

SCAD got goals at the 25:38 and 28:36 marks of the first half for a 2-0 half time lead. They put the game away late in the second half with a goal at the 82:12 mark. TU's best opportunity came in the first half, when a long distance shot by junior Sheila McLaughlin was tipped by the Lady Bees goalkeeper into the crossbar and back to her hands. Late in the game the Lady Night Hawks also had some opportunities on dangerous services from free kicks but was unable to capitalize on any of them.

"That early shot by Sheila would have made a big difference in the game, the keeper came up big for them", said TU head coach Ricky Zambrano. "Against a team like them, defending Region 14 champs, it helps to catch an early goal. Today they showed why they represented out region at the national tournament last year".

TU will be back in action on Friday September 22 at 4:00pm as they travel to Americus, GA to face NCAA DII foe Georgia Southwestern University.

TU(2-4) was knocked off by the visiting NCAA DII Rollins College Tars(5-1) by a score of 3-1.

The Tars got two goals in the first half and another mid way thru the second to give the Lady Night Hawks a 3-0 deficit. Sophomore Naama Wolf got one back for TU as she scored her third goal of the year with a very nicely struck free kick. Thomas stepped up the pressure a bit more but simply did not have enough to beat the stingy Rollins defense.

"Our girls battled hard against a very good team", said TU head coach Ricky Zambrano. "I was proud that we did not give up and played till the final whistle".

The Lady Night Hawks will next take the field on Sunday September 17 at 1:00pm as they host NAIA #25 Savannah College of Art and Design  at the Wendy's Soccer Complex.

The Thomas University Lady Night Hawks(2-3) defeated the very hard working Wesleyan College Pioneers by a score of 7-0 Friday afternoon at the Wendy's Soccer Complex.

Freshman Amanda Graham opened up the scoring for TU, when she placed a pass from freshman Laura Hoey past the Pioneer goalkeeper. The Lady Night Hawks found the back off the net four more times in the first half on goals by Hoey (2), sophomore Naama Wolf, and junior Sheila McLaughlin. In the second half the Thomas scoring was rounded out by goals from sophomore Paya George and Thomasville native freshman Ashley McDaniel. Freshman goalkeeper's Brittany Wilkinson and Graham combined for the shutout in the net. A stingy TU defense allowed only 3 Pioneer shots on goal.

"Although we scored five first half goals I did not feel we played well as a team, all our goals came primarily from 1v1 situations", said TU head coach Ricky Zambrano. "Our game plan was to come out and look to improve upon our combination play and ball movement, I felt we did a better job with it in the second half. It is still good to find our scoring ability".

TU will next be back in action on Sunday September 10 at 12:00pm as they host NCAA DII Rollins College  at the Wendy's Soccer Complex.

September 3, 2006

September 2, 2006

September 1, 2006

August 27, 2006

The Lady Night Hawks held off a relentless Lady Monarch attack for the first 23 minutes of the first half but at the 23:45 mark SLU found the back off the net to take the lead, then came back with two more first half goals for a 3-0 half time lead. A Lady Monarch game at the 54:47 mark of the second half extend the lead for SLU to four. After a 45 minute lightning and thunder storm delayed the game, the Lady Night Hawks came out and play a very solid last 34 minutes of the game. Saint Leo found the back of the net once more in the closing minutes off the game for the 5-0 victory.

"Our ladies learned a lot today", said head coach Ricky Zambrano. "We were beaten in every aspect of the game for the first 56 minutes off the game. They beat us with speed of play and athleticism but for us the important thing was to finish the game better than we started and that we definitely did. It is important at this time of year to create a never give up attitude".

The Lady Night Hawks will next take the field on Friday September 1, as they travel to Ft. Lauderdale, FL to face NCAA DII foe Nova Southeastern University at 5PM.

August 25, 2006

Sophomore defender Naama Wolf gave the Lady Night Hawks the early lead with a free kick goal mid way thru the first half. After taking a 1-0 lead into the half, TU withstood a massive Lady Badger attack to begin the second half. Freshman Melanie Phillips helped relieve the pressure for Thomas when she found the back of the net on a one on one with the Lady Badger goalkeeper, after junior Sheila McLaughlin had split the SHC defense with a great thru ball. The game then opened up and both teams exchanged dangerous opportunities with neither team able to capitalize. With under eight minutes left the referee awarded Spring hill a hand ball penalty kick, when Wolf stepped to defend a Lady badger shot on goal. After converting the penalty and cutting the deficit to one SHC continued to push forward at the TU goal. The Lady Night Hawks defended as a team with tenacity to finish the game while creating some dangerous counter attack opportunities of their own.

"We played hard for 90 minutes today", said head coach Ricky Zambrano. "It was not the prettiest of games but we will take the victory. We did things rather well at times especially when we allowed ball movement to control the game, this was a great learning experience for our younger players especially being on the road and having to hold the lead. I gave a lot of credit to Spring Hill, I thought they battled for 90 minutes as well and definitely left everything they had on the field".

TU will next take the field on Sunday August 27, as they travel to Saint Leo, FL to face NCAA DII foe Saint Leo University at 2:30pm.

August 24, 2006

"Our mentality this pre season has been to keep everything very positive", said head coach Ricky Zambrano. "The ladies have worked hard and are looking forward to getting going with the regular season. Spring Hill will be a good opponent for us and a good gauge of where we are".

In 2006, a very challenging schedule which includes matches versus seven NCAA Division II teams and  two teams ranked nationally in pre season, awaits the Lady Night Hawks. "This is a young team and we will be challenged early by teams that more than likely will be ranked nationally by the end of this season", said Zambrano. "It will be extremely important for our returning players to show strong leadership while our freshman adjust to the college game".

The Lady Night Hawks open their home schedule on Friday September 8 as they host Wesleyan College at 2PM.