Defense wins games: Nothing comes easy against organized Curtis Vikings unit

When Eddie Na took over the head coaching position at Curtis High four years ago, he wanted to ensure that any success the Vikings created in the future wouldn’t be fleeting.

“One of the things I really wanted to implement is that consistency in having a great attitude and make sure that our effort is always at a maximum,” Na said. “It’s been a culture shift a little bit over the last few years.”

It helps to have talent, of course.

And when Na took over, he and his staff found a core of eager sophomores waiting for them. Over three years, that core grew into a senior-laden group for 2023 that went through the regular season undefeated and were mentioned among the top teams in the nation.

“That first year was a big learning curve, the second year we started to get the hang of it, and that third year we were extremely successful,” Na said. “That’s just kind of carrying even stronger into this season.”

The 2024 team isn’t undefeated. But these Vikings are set to build on the foundation and have continued the success. They are 9-2 overall and with a strong final week are in position to accomplish one of six season goals the team set before the year began – repeating as the 4A South Puget Sound League champions.

Tuesday Curtis shut out South Kitsap 1-0, the Vikings eighth shutout victory of the season. The Vikings have allowed a total of seven goals all year and just one, in a 2-1 win over Bellarmine, in those nine victories.

They’ve done it with a much different group after graduating eight seniors off last year’s team, though defensively, big contributors from 2023 anchor the back line and allow many of the new faces to play freely and loosely offensively.

The guy who tends to draw the attention also is the SPSL’s returning defensive MVP. Ethan Bell still is just a junior, but he and his defensive mates have put together a year that could in the end be better defensively than last season, when the Vikings posted an overall 0.6 goals against average.

Curtis is right there already, giving up just 0.64 goals a game through the South Kitsap match on April 23.

Sophomore Landon Lee plays alongside Bell on the back line and has already developed into a stopper alongside the reigning MVP. Behind them, senior goalie Manny Zuniga took a jump as a junior, playing a role for that 2023 team, and has been near-perfect this season.

“Having Landon come in and just be a center back partner I can trust and having him fit in with the team is just amazing to have, honestly,” Bell said. “Then Manny playing lights out really compliments us on the field. I feel like they don’t get the respect they deserve, too, because I’m getting the recognition. Highlighting them is one of the most important things I can say.”

Some days, Bell and Lee make things easy on Zuniga. But when he’s needed, Zuniga has become a consistent stopper whether on in-play chances, free kicks and even penalties.

“He’s become so consistent on stopping the penalties,” Na said.

“Mostly, it’s just hard work and putting all the pieces together,” Zuniga said. “Hours in the gym, playing in the field with all the other guys, getting as many reps in as I can.”

Zuniga loves having Bell and Lee in front of him, for sure, but he also knows he’s the last line of defense.

“I’ve got to be dialed in the entire time,” Zuniga said. “It’s a long game. It’s 80 minutes. People lose concentration because they get tired. I’m there to remind them to stay focused.”

The formula has worked again this season for the Vikings. The defensive force they are on the back line transitions into a free, flowing offensive attack where seniors such as Andrew George, the Vikings leading scorer as a junior, Drew Castellanos and others can attack opponents.

If the offensive guys happen to give a ball away, it’s no problem with the back line there to support.

“Talking with some of the forwards, they know they can relax a little bit knowing that we are going to have them covered,” Bell said.

No matter where this season goes or how it ends, or how many of the preseason goals they check off, this group already knows that success won’t be just a one-off. Even after losing eight seniors, and nine total starters, from a year ago, they remain a force in the SPSL.

Defensively, Bell and Lee will still be there together another season beyond this one, and Lee is a member of a group of sophomores similar to what Na had in his first season as the head coach.

“We have the motivation to push hard and play well together,” Lee said. “Especially like from last year, we’re just more motivated to make it further and play to our potential.”

That motivation plays well for Na as the program continues to develop.

“They want to make sure they’re bringing a legacy into this program,” Na said. “For me, it’s have we done the program justice. Have we taken steps forward. In terms of on the field stuff, there’s not much more I can ask of these boys.”