That Ne’Quan, he’s a keeper

It wasn’t exactly a kick that would inspire the creation of a Hawaii men’s soccer team.

Ne’Quan Phillips wasn’t complaining. The UH junior cornerback pounced on Quinton Pedroza’s shot, to raucous cheers from his teammates on defense.

Apparently, Phillips is counted on as a stopper in more than one sport.

At the end of Friday’s practice, the entire UH football team gathered around a goal borrowed from the Rainbow Wahine soccer team at the lower campus grass practice fields. The offense and defense took turns taking penalty kicks.

After some singing of "Ole!" it fell upon the 5-foot-9 "goalkeeper" Phillips to preserve the win for the D by denying the receiver Pedroza. First, a would-be goal by Pedroza was disallowed while Phillips attempted to undo his shoulder pads.

"He wasn’t ready to go," secondary coach Daronte’ Jones said with a sigh. "He was messing with his pads, and I try to teach those guys to be ready at all times."

Pedroza’s second try was a slow-roller that Phillips had no trouble fielding.

"The shot didn’t look all that impressive," Wahine soccer assistant coach Mike Herman said. "But, can’t complain. It was fun to watch."

When asked about his stop, Phillips made sure to speak loudly — Pedroza was within earshot.

"Well, it was really my first experience doing that, because I never played soccer," Phillips said. "I just tried to move my feet, keep my eyes on the ball and use my instincts, basically."

That’s what got him on the field for the Rainbow Warriors as a starter in all 12 games of the 2013 season. Phillips was a Mountain West Conference honorable mention choice (and academic All-MWC) after finishing sixth on the team in tackles with 64, with two picks, six pass break-ups and a forced fumble.

Last year’s leaders in the secondary, John Hardy-Tuliau and Charles Clay, are gone. Jones needs Phillips, of Miami, to assume that mantle.

"(Leadership) is something he’s geared toward and he busted his butt in the offseason," Jones said. "Had some record-breaking numbers (in weight room squats), so just carry that onto the football field with what he’s doing and help these young guys get to where we gotta get to."

Phillips has heard his position coach’s message, but offered up a democratic approach.

"I feel like I have to step up a lot and be a leader to the young guys," he said. "We have a lot of new faces out here. I just gotta show them the way. … Basically everybody in the secondary, we’re all out there competing, seeing who can make more plays and all that."

Jones said physicality is one of Phillips’ best attributes. He’s still working to improve his footwork, hands and eyes, as is every other member of the secondary.

On Friday, at least, Phillips stopped the ball that mattered the most, and punted it away as players from the offense hung their heads.