State semifinalist Flowing Wells has been 'special' from the start

It didn't take long for first-year Flowing Wells boys soccer coach Vince Phillips to figure out he had a state championship contender.

“From the first day I came back home from practice in November, I realized we had a bunch of talent” said Phillips, who also coaches club at Tucson Soccer Academy. “I knew we had something special.”

Yes they did.

The second-seeded Caballeros are riding a six-match winning streak heading into Wednesday's Division III state semifinal clash against No. 6 Phoenix Cortez at Tucson High at 7 p.m.

Senior midfielder Edgar Makepeace, a four-year varsity player, agreed with Phillips' talent assessment after that first practice, but he didn't think the team would be at this point: One win away from the program's first championship appearance.

“I knew we'd be decent, but didn't expect it to go like this,” Makepeace said. “It's been incredible, for me personally, in my last year. And for everyone else, I know they're happy and we just want to get every single win we can.”

Last season, the Caballeros finished below .500 and Makepeace thought they played in a me-first fashion. It led to poor team chemistry, attitudes and body language.

Flowing Wells got out to a slow start in the Brandon Bean and Chris Maier tournaments but has recovered to post a 13-4-1 record with one regular season loss –  A 2-1 defeat to Catalina, which reached the Division III quarterfinals.

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Makepeace credits Phillips for the success the Caballeros have experienced this season.

“He's come in and it seems like we've had him for so long.,” Makepeace said. “He fit in really well and we just started playing and flowing.”

Before Phillips took the job at his alma mater, he only knew two boys in the program, and one was on junior varsity. But once he recognized the talent, he knew establishing the relationships would be the biggest challenge.

“We're getting there,” said Phillips, who graduated in 1983, a year before the Cabs soccer program started. “We're learning more about one another each day.

"I've always been a soccer fanatic, so to be able to influence these boys not only at the club level, but at school too and help them realize academics is not something to pass the time, but something that carries on. It fills up my heart.”

The Caballeros have outscored opponents 49-23 this season and have recorded six shutouts. They're also 6-1-1 in games decided by one goal, including two wins in the postseason.

Senior centerback Miles Starkey believes the team has been playing with more creativity. He said the coaching staff draws up a game plan, but allows the midfielders to create during the game, which has produced a winning atmosphere.

“This is my last year of high school and this is my favorite group of people I've played with," Starkey said. "Everyone has a great attitude, everyone loves to play soccer and I think it's a great way to cap off my career.”