Zion-Benton’s Adrian Flores seemed quite sure of himself when Marco Matute met him six years ago.
Matute, who was Flores’ club soccer coach at the time, soon learned that first impression was misleading.
“He was cocky,” Matute said. “But once you get to know his sense of humor, you’re like, ‘OK, this guy’s not really like that.’
“Once you meet him, you know he’s a very down-to-earth person. You know he’s very caring about everybody he meets. He puts everybody before himself.”
That was further confirmed as Matute, Zion-Benton’s coach, watched Flores grow into a leader. A fourth-year varsity starter, Flores is a captain for the defending North Suburban Conference champion Zee-Bees (5-0-1), who have outscored opponents 10-2. He’s also an indispensable player.
“His grit, passion and hard work make him feel like he’s seven players on the field,” Matute said. “He has a lot of responsibility on him, but he handles that with maturity. A lot of the younger guys look up to him.”
Flores, whose father, siblings, uncle and cousins all played soccer, is typically a midfielder but moves around for the Zee-Bees.
“When things get tough, I know that if I need him to play a different position, he’s going to do it, and he’s going to do it 110%,” Matute said.
When Zion-Benton needed a center back for its third game of the season due to an injury, Flores volunteered, according to Matute.
“Adrian said, ‘Hey, I’ll play center back, and I’ll do it to the best that I can,’” Matute said. “If he needs to play right back or right mid or anywhere else, it’s always 110% in the energy he brings to any position.”
Flores anchored a defense that smothered Dundee-Crown in the Zee-Bees’ 3-0 win. That was the team’s third consecutive shutout to start the season.
“Once I shift positions, I just put my mind straight,” Flores said. “It doesn’t really make a difference for me. As long as I’m playing, I’m in my game.
“The game is more up to me now that I’m a senior. It’s a bigger responsibility for me, and I have to step up and be a leader for this team.”
Zion-Benton senior Ricardo Ayala, who also is a captain, said Flores is a good one.
“Adrian is an inspirational teammate,” Ayala said. “He’s willing to do the dirty work in games when other people aren’t.”
Flores hopes to continue playing soccer in college and intends to gauge the available opportunities as the school year progresses. In the meantime, he wants to lead Zion-Benton to the top.
“My goal for the team is to win state,” he said.
Flores’ confidence is rooted in his experience with his teammates.
More Top Picks Best Acupressure Pillows For Neck Tension
“These boys have been together for quite a bit, so I would honestly say (the hot start) is expected,” Matute said. “It’s because of how collective they are as a group. That chemistry and that unity really brings them together when things get tough.
“We want to put Zion on the map and really show that we try to create good people and good young soccer players. We’re trying to change the culture.”
Flores is front and center in that effort.
“Things are amazing right now,” he said. “We have to keep going out with fire. It’s my last year. It’s all or nothing.”
Sam Brief is a freelance reporter.