Cameron excited to lead young Cougars

By JEREMY SELLEW

jsellew@yourmvi.com

At a recent workout, Charleroi girls soccer coach Tom Cameron put talented sophomore Bella Carroto alone on the goal line. In front of her were 10 teammates and her assignment was to dribble through all 10 players.

“She told me she couldn’t do it,” Cameron said. “Exactly, I told her. You can’t do it because it’s going to take a team to do it.”

And so goes the theme for the Cougars this season.

In his first year at the helm of the Charleroi girls program, Cameron is taking a team-first approach to things with his small roster of players.

“I’m a keep-it-simple guy,” Cameron said. “We have a three-year plan and our goal this year is we want to make the playoffs. We’re going to put more emphasis on our section play. By the time these girls are seniors, I want them to be in the state playoffs.

“Now, whether we win, lose or draw, if these girls give me 100%, I’ll have no complaints.”

While the Cougars, who finished 4-11 overall with a 4-8 mark in Section 2-A, will field a team of 14 or 15 girls, there is plenty of talent. A faction of underclassmen chose not to return to the team this season, but Cameron said he’s fine with that.

“You never know, maybe they’ll come back. Technically, camp doesn’t start until Monday, but I’m going to coach the girls who are here. I’m perfectly fine with that.”

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