By Shawn Yorks
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If you missed last week’s boys soccer season finale against Dove Science Academy, don’t fret. The Tigers will play host to Madill tomorrow evening in the first round of the Class 4A playoffs.
And for sixth-ranked Guymon, No. 14 Madill will be like playing against themselves.
“They are just like us,” said coach Mike Taylor. “They play a similar style to us. It will basically be like it was with Dove Science: who wants it the most.”
The Tigers don’t often have home field advantage in the playoffs, so Tuesday will be a chance to see if the long bus ride, climate and elevation will have an affect on Madill, which is located in southern Oklahoma near the Red River.
The Tigers are unbeaten at home this year.
“I should have every advantage,” Taylor said. “But if the Madill coach is anything like myself, he won’t blame losing on any one thing. I always say you’ve got to overcome and adapt. You need to make an excuse for winning, not why you can’t win.”
Madill is more of a finesse team like the Tigers, but may not be as fast.
And the Tiger defense is the best in District 4A-2.
“They didn’t make the playoffs if they aren’t a good team,” Taylor said. “They aren’t as physical as Woodward or Bishop McGuiness. They want to play our style, more finesse, but they will knock you off the ball.”
Taylor said he needs to mix the Tiger offense a little bit — not let Madill know where they are going to attack from.
“We want to keep them guessing,” Taylor said. “They’re not going to know whether we are coming from the left, the right or the middle.”
The Tigers have added a few plays, especially on corner kicks.
“We should always score on corner kicks,” Taylor said. “Sometimes that doesn’t always work out.
“But we installed a few more plays and we need to run those plays crisper.”
One constant in Guymon this time of year is the wind, which doesn’t always work to the Tigers’ advantage.
“The wind does strange things to the soccer ball,” Taylor said.
Kickoff tomorrow is 5:30 p.m. at Memorial Stadium.