The Patriots' last line of defense
Scoring on Viewpoint's boys' soccer team has been a tough task
By Stephen Dorman sdorman@theacorn.com

JANN HENDRY/Acorn Newspapers DENIAL- Viewpoint goalkeeper Naveed Majd thwarts a shot attempt during Monday's practice. Just last week, the school opened its new football/soccer field, complete with FieldTurf and a scoreboard.

This defense never rests.

The Viewpoint boys' soccer team compiled a 15-1-6 overall record during the regular season, winning the Liberty League championship.

Senior forward Spencer Brown led the Patriot offensive attack with 26 goals and six assists. Evan Raynr, a playmaking sophomore midfielder, scored nine times and logged a team-high seven assists.

Viewpoint's offense was extremely productive this year, but it wasn't the real reason the Patriots were so dominant. That's because, defensively, Viewpoint was spectacular.

According to head coach Travis Kikugawa, VHS allowed only five goals in 22 games. The Patriots had 16 shutouts, including a stretch from Jan. 5 to Feb. 9 where they didn't give up a single goal. The scoreless streak ended during the regular-season finale when Buckley High scored on a penalty kick.

JANN HENDRY/Acorn Newspapers BRICK WALL- From left, Kyle Hindin, Patrick Handy, Travis Metzger, Naveed Majd and Kian Torabian form the Viewpoint defense. Senior defender Dan Sullitzer is not pictured.

"Defense is all about mentality," Kikugawa said. "And these guys are winners."

"We had a long talk at the beginning of the year that the focus was going to be defense. As long as our defense is able to shut other teams out and limit their shots on goal, we're going to be in every game.

"We have enough strength," the coach said. "We're going to create enough opportunities with our front six. As long as our back four can limit the other team, we like our chances."

Shoring up Viewpoint's backline are a pair of seniors- Dan Sullitzer and Kyle Hindin- and sophomores Travis Metzger, Kian Torabian and Patrick Handy.

The sophomores played together on a youth travel team for many years. They credit some of their current success to longstanding cohesion on the pitch.

"We have a club background; we've been playing together since middle school," Torabian said. "We all know and understand how each other plays."

Hindin, one of the seniors, said the Patriots are able to create a "net" on the defensive side of the field. If the opposition wants to score, he said, they'll have to navigate through several layers of defenders.

"If one of our defensemen messes up, let's say the ball slips through or someone gets behind him, we'll still have three more people back there," Hindin said.

"If the ball gets through one guy, it's stopped by the next. It's a foolproof plan all the way back."

As the shutouts continued to mount, the defensive players' confidence began to expand, said Handy. The Patriots transformed from a team that thought it could win a match with a physical defense to a team that knew it could.

"It's a big sense of pride," Handy said. "It boosts our morale, too, makes us even better. The more shutouts we get, it makes it easier to get another shutout because we believe it."

Of course, no defense would be complete without an outstanding goalkeeper. Senior Naveed Majd has filled the role for the Patriots.

After allowing a couple of soft goals during Viewpoint's secondround playoff loss to St. Bonaventure last year, Majd bounced back during the offseason by working harder than he ever had before.

"Naveed told me he was going to commit himself over the summer, commit himself in the fall," Kikugawa said. "He wanted to make sure in his last year that, A) he was our No. 1 goalie, and B) he was going to be in a position of leadership.

"He's really done a great job of taking on a leadership role. The guys respect him. He's a worker . . . and it's paid dividends."

Majd said building his confidence took some time, but with four outstanding defenders lining up in front of him every game, he's become convinced that success is a mere formality.

"Our results show the hard work and dedication we put into practice every day," Majd said. "Our defense always steps up during games. They play strong every game and that makes my job a lot easier."

Viewpoint will open the CIFSouthern Section Division VI playoffs Saturday at home against Pilgrim or Villanova Prep. Kickoff is slated for 3 p.m.

Metzger, one of the sophomore defenders, said the thirdseeded Patriots have set their sights set on a CIF championship.

"We have a great chance this year," Metzger said. "We have a bunch of great players and a solid backline. Our defense will be strong, but our offense must score, too. I mean, you can't win if you don't score goals."