Spotlight: EHS brother act gives Wildcats kick in pants

Out there, junior goalkeeper Tony isn't the one taking the sage advice from older brother and Estero sweeper Joey. Tony's the one guiding Joey and the rest of the defense to where they need to be.

"I boss people around," Joey says. "And Tony bosses me to boss people around."

And Joey's OK with that ... at least when a soccer ball is involved.

"Only about 90 minutes a game are under his control," says a smiling Joey.

"That's just long enough so that he doesn't get used to it."

It's said with a laugh. Most things between the two are said with a laugh.

Their tight relationship has evolved into on-point on-field communication. It's why the Wildcats' defense has been so solid and part of the reason that Estero is gaining ground as a soccer school.

The Restino brothers have been playing soccer for a long time, 12 or 13 years by their count. Their parents wanted them to pick a sport and both chose soccer for a very simple reason.

"It was fun," Joey says.

Tony says their parents' support helps make them the players they are.

"Mom and Dad asked us, 'What do you guys want to do?' and we said soccer," he says. "And they said, 'Fine, we'll support you,' and they make about every game."

In the past few seasons, the two finally started playing on the same teams. Estero coach John Robinson says the duo's gifts, Joey's speed (Robinson says he could play anywhere) and Tony's never-say- die mentality in the net (Robinson considers him a Division I prospect), make them perfect to play on his defense.

"To me, the most important thing in soccer is defense," Robinson says. "And the most important positions on defense are the ones that Tony and Joey play. You'd like to have a team full of guys like them."

What sets the two even farther apart from the pack is their communication with each other, honed by more than a decade of backyard and pick-up soccer games. If the two aren't playing for Estero, they're playing for their club team. If they're not with their club team, they're over in Miami playing in leagues.

Each Restino has developed a feel for where the other is on the soccer pitch. It's to a point, Joey says, where sometimes they don't talk at all.

"Tony will know exactly where I'm going to go," Joey says, "and I think, wow, that's pretty cool, because I didn't even have to say anything."

Defense is Estero's focus and defense is what has served them so well over the last two seasons. Tony was in the net for nine Wildcats shutouts last season. Estero allowed one goal in it's first three games this season.

The Restinos say one goal is one too much.

"We win 3-1 and that one bothers us," Joey says.

And they can't always go without bothering each other. They are brothers after all. Robinson says he sees it happen once in a while, but not often.

"Sometimes in practice, you can tell they've been together a little too long," he says. "They can mess with each other, but if anyone tries to mess with one of them, the other one will have his brother's back."

Tony and Joey say they don't mind spending all that time with each other. They often spend what little down-time they have together, going to the movies with other friends or hanging out at the beach.

"Most of his closest friends are my closest friends," Tony says. "And most of my closest friends are his closest friends."

The Restinos' brotherly love has served the Wildcats soccer team well. The team hopes to match last season's hot 7-0-1 start and keep that momentum going through the year.

At that pace, Joey won't mind taking orders from his little brother a little longer.