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Phillips Puts Team First as High-Scoring Rams’ Captain

The Old Saybrook boys’ soccer team just put a bow on an undefeated regular season and is now looking to make another deep playoff push in the State Tournament. One of biggest reasons behind the Rams’ recent run of success is the goal-scoring skills and solid leadership of Justin Phillips.

Justin, a senior captain center midfielder, earned All-State recognition last year when Old Saybrook went 14-0-2 in the regular season, won the Shoreline Conference Tournament for its first league title in more than 50 years, and then reached the Class S State Tournament final. This year, Justin is the leading scorer for the Rams, who put together another unblemished regular season with a better record of 16-0.

“My success starts with my teammates. Without them, I can’t do what I do out there. In the offseason, we all put in the hard work, and it’s really translated to our season this year,” says Justin. “My favorite way to score a goal is at the top of the 18-yard mark and hit a long shot. It always feels great to get it past the goalkeeper.”

Justin says the reason behind his progression on the pitch doesn’t stem from fancy footwork or a specific maneuver. Instead, Justin has worked hard to develop a sharp mental approach, and it’s a trait that he passes on to his teammates in his capacity as captain.

“My mentality has improved. I started out not thinking too much, but then I changed how I started thinking towards the game,” Justin says. “It helps to bring the team together with a right mindset, and it’s helped me as a leader. It’s a great program to be a part of here, and it means a lot that the players and coaches picked me to be the leader. But I’m not the only leader on the team, because everyone on this team is one.”

Some athletes might feel a little anxiety coming off an All-State campaign and being a well-scouted target for opposing squads. However, like a true gamer, Justin relishes having the bull’s-eye on his back.

“I don’t let things get to my head, because then it brings the team down if I focus just on myself,” he says. “Opposing players are always on me in a game because of the notoriety, but it helps me improve as a player, knowing I have that challenge.”

After coming one win short of a state title last fall, the Rams are aiming to make another charge toward the top of the Class S ranks in 2017. Justin and company know that they will have to concentrate on the immediate tasks at hand every day in order for that goal to come to fruition.

“Our focus is to take things one game at a time and not get too far ahead of ourselves. We scout each team we play one at a time,” says Justin. “We also have to stay focused at each practice because, if we don’t, it leads to mistakes.”