Expectations remain high for Charleroi boys soccer
By JEREMY SELLEW
jsellew@yourmvi.com
The Charleroi boys soccer team has won three straight section championships. And while this year, the expectation is to go get the fourth straight, the goals remain the same.
“It’s one game at a time and focus on the system,” Cougars head coach Jon Ducoli said. “We have our tiered system of the goals we want to achieve, but all we’re worried about right now is that first game.”
The quest for another section title starts up front with the return of senior Eben McIntyre.
McIntyre, who’s getting a number of looks from Division I universities, returns after scoring 43 goals last season. He only needs three this season to hit 100 for his career. If he reaches the number of tallies he had last fall, he’ll leave as the program’s all-time leading goal scorer.
“Eben has done a ton of off-season training. He’s done so much work and has really prepared himself for the physical style of play he’s going to see,” Ducoli said. “There’s no debating that teams are going to come in here and try to mark him with two, three, even four defenders. And still, he’s going to be a threat.”
McIntyre is looking forward to reaching all of his goals this season – individual and for the team.
“At the beginning of each season I always write down my personal and team goals for each year. This year, some of my personal goals include Pennsylvania Gatorade Player Of The Year, all-state, WPIAL Player Of The Year, and I would love to win back to back MVI Fab 15 Boys Player Of The Year awards,” he said. “Along with those important goals I know I am coming close to some school scoring records, so I always keep that in the back of my mind.
“Team goals, I want to help the team continue our section winning streak that we have going. Last year, I was disappointed in our first-round exit in the playoffs, so I want to make sure we go deeper into the playoffs this year. Lastly, I would like to close out my high school career with another undefeated regular season.”
While McIntyre will man the forward position, there are plenty of weapons the Cougars will feature.
Eben’s younger brother Arlo, a sophomore, and junior Dom Yocolano will man the midfield. They’ll replace the graduated Sam Iacovangelo.
“While we’re obviously going to miss what Sammy did in there for us, those two guys got a lot of minutes last year and will be more than capable of filling that void,” Ducoli said. “I really think the transition is going to be seamless. With those guys, it’s not only from last year to this year we see them getting better, it’s every single day.”
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