By Eric Frantz For The Dayton Daily News

CLAYTON | That knock is opportunity at Northmont's door.

Within five days, the Thunderbolts will square off against the top two teams in the initial Miami Valley Scholastic Soccer Coaches Association Division I poll.

Thursday Northmont travels to top-ranked and undefeated Beavercreek. Monday the T-Bolts host second-ranked Wayne. Northmont is ranked seventh.

"We kind of prefer it like that," Northmont coach Walt Slade said. "It prepares you for the tournament and this will show the strength and character of our team."

So far, Northmont is flexing its muscle just fine.

Currently 3-2-2 with losses to Dublin Scioto and Cincinnati Northwest, Northmont isn't shy about playing the best competition. Of the top 10 teams in the MVSSCA poll, the T-Bolts' schedule contains nine.

"We may not be undefeated at the end of the season, but we play everyone," Slade said.

The five-time defending Greater Western Ohio Conference West Division champs are also on the verge of rounding out its crossover games with what many consider the stronger GWOC East Division.

Of the East Division's six schools, five were ranked in the MVSSCA's top 10 including 'Creek, Wayne, Centerville (third), Xenia (fourth) and Fairmont (ninth).

Northmont, which handed Xenia its first defeat Monday in decisive fashion (4-1), is currently 3-0-1 against the GWOC East.

The T-Bolts also own victories over Fairmont (7-0) and Springfield North (8-0). They tied Centerville (0-0).

The success should earn votes come district tournament seeding.

"If we can come out (of this stretch) with a couple wins it will set us up nicely for the rest of the season," Slade said.

As for what's carried Northmont thus far, Slade said both offense and defense have shared the weight.

"The good thing is that you can't really single out the offense or the defense," Slade said. "Everyone is doing a great job of getting their jobs done and the leaders are getting us prepared."

Northmont, which lost nine to graduation, has four seniors, seven juniors, four sophomores and one freshman on the roster.

Junior defender Aubree Thomas and sophomore forward Sara Seitz were first team All-Dayton North last year.

As for Thursday's game, Northmont will try to stop a three-game losing streak to Beavercreek.

The Beavers have won each of the last two regular season games by one goal and claimed a 2003 district final meeting, 5-0.

"We have high hopes here every year," Slade said. "And we just go out and play the schedule."

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