Crescent-News.com - Defiance vs. Napoleon preview: Soccer teams ready for Friday night special

By JASON STEIN

cnsports@crescent-news.com

On a day typically reserved for hard-hitting action on the gridiron, Friday night will shift focus from the football field and onto the pitch - the soccer field.

With the change in scheduling, the Wildcats of Napoleon will play host at 7 p.m. at Loose Field to the Bulldogs from Defiance in the regular-season soccer opener, and it's a contest that needs little help in generating excitement.

"We might have a larger crowd (by playing on Friday night) and that would provide a nice atmosphere," remarked Napoleon's head coach Tim Carney. "So with that opportunity comes a little bit more excitement, but as far as the game goes, no, it shouldn't have any drastic effect on the game."

Added Defiance's head coach Carlos Lopez, "I think there will be excitement because I've never played soccer on Friday, but I don't know what football people will think about it."

For the last couple of years the Wildcats have controlled the series with Defiance's last victory over its rival coming back in the 2005 district semifinals, when the Bulldogs won, 2-1. Since then, Napoleon has won the two regular season meetings while also ending Defiance's seasons each of the last two years in the postseason.

"We've got a lot of respect for Napoleon, those guys (won) the regional finals, and the team that beat them in the state semifinals went and won the state, so that speaks for Napoleon," remarked Lopez. "I never took them lightly and I never will take them lightly and I don't think any of my players will ever take them lightly. In all our games we try to do our best. I like to play Tim Carney and his Napoleon Wildcats because they're a great team and we think the past couple of years they've had our number but they've been pretty close games."

Four out of the last five meetings have been decided by one goal, with last year's 3-0 Wildcat victory in the sectional finals being the one exception.

The Bulldogs are going to have to contain a speedy and experienced Wildcat team and Lopez wants to make sure that his team limits their mistakes because one turnover at the wrong time could be the difference.

"They have great speed and a good offense," remarked Lopez about Napoleon's strengths. "One mistake maybe costs us a goal and when you fall behind against Napoleon, they're pretty good at retreating back and playing good defense. We need to mark good, play good and concentrate for 80 minutes of the game. For us to come out with a 'W' on Friday, we need to play almost a perfect game."

Napoleon will be playing their second game in as many nights after taking on Bluffton tonight at the Soccer Classic tournament in Elida. However, the opportunity to play against their rival might make up for whatever fatigue may set in after playing the night before.

"We're going to be as prepared as we can be," said Carney. "We have a game (tonight) so we'll be playing two nights in a row but obviously there's a little extra incentive any time we play Defiance to come out prepared and fired up. It's early in the season and there is definitely room for improvement right now. We're playing well and we've got an experienced team returning so we're in early-season form and we'll be looking to improve, but we'll be prepared to play."

History has shown that when these two teams come to play, they leave it all out on the field, and neither coach sees any reason that Friday will be any different.

"High intensity and physical," began Carney in describing his expectations for the game. "Carlos always has his team prepared, he's a good coach, so I expect them to come out as prepared as us if not more. We expect a close, physical battle and it's something that we always look forward to."

"Pretty rough," added Lopez of his expectations. "With Tim Carney and I, we respect each other. The kids play hard, do everything they can in the game and then when the game is over, it's over. The team that wins on Friday can brag for a year, or at least to sectionals, but knowing that we respect each other, that's what I love about Tim Carney's team. He's a guy that after the game, he comes and shakes your hand and I love that and am the same way. I may be yelling and screaming at the refs, players, whatever ... but after the game is over, we have a good relationship and that's how I like to keep it."