Issaquah Eagles boys soccer head coach Kyle Tatro is an avid fan of competition.

While some coaches enjoy having their teams face less than stellar opponents in non-league games to start the season, Tatro takes the opposite approach. The Eagles faced the South Puget Sound League powerhouse Curtis Vikings in a non-league showdown between two of the most prolific soccer programs in Washington. Issaquah prevailed courtesy of a 3-1 victory on March 20 at Issaquah High School. The Eagles improved their overall record to 2-0-1 with the win.

“You don’t see that caliber of a team all the time. They really challenged us,” Tatro said.

The Eagles, who advanced to the first round of the Class 4A state playoffs in 2014, took an early 1-0 lead on Theo Walker’s goal in the 14th minute of play. They extended the lead to 2-0 when Jack Figg connected on a goal from 35 yards out. The shot, which came on a free kick, sailed perfectly into the upper left corner of the goal.

“I kind of knew I was going to score but I didn’t know it was going to be that pretty,” Figg said.

Tatro said Figg had practiced that play countless times in practice from that distance.

“It was just how we drew it up in practice,” Tatro said.

Curtis cut Issaquah’s lead to 2-1 just before halftime when Thomas Greer scored with 12 minutes left in the first half. Greer was open in the middle of the field for several seconds before a teammate passed him the ball, which Greer converted into a goal. The game remained scoreless for much of the second half until Issaquah defender Liam Bruno scored on a penalty kick in the 68th minute, giving the Eagles a 3-1 lead. Figg said he expects his team win the Class 4A KingCo championship and advance to the state tournament.

“We work together really well and most of us have played for several years together,” Figg said. “We have a really motivated team and are working on our cohesion right now.”

The Eagles have 10 seniors on the roster which bodes well for a team with lofty aspirations.

“Our goal is to always put ourselves in a place to win the KingCo Championship. Whatever happens from then on out is a little icing on the top. We’ll prepare for that when it comes,” Tatro said.

Shaun Scott: 425-453-5045; sscott@bellevuereporter.com