Freeport girls soccer’s Camryn Woods shares advice to younger players: ‘Don’t be afraid’
BUFFALO TWP — Camryn Woods showed no fear.
In turn, Freeport’s then-freshman performed statistically better than any other girls soccer player in Butler County last season.
“To younger girls and freshmen coming out, don’t be afraid — because that’s the worst thing that you can do,” Woods said after a recent practice. “Just come out with confidence and (be) ready to show people who you are. … That’s what I did. That’s what got me success.
“I was the youngest girl on the field most of the time because I’m an Aug. 26 birthday, so I’m younger (for my class). Obviously, I was nervous. But once you’re out there and you’re just in the midst of the game, just have confidence and you’ll be good.”
Half of this season’s Yellowjackets team consists of freshmen, with six or seven playing substantial minutes, Freeport coach Steve Kukic said. As of Saturday, the ‘Jackets (11-1-1, 8-1-1 in WPIAL Section 2-2A) sit atop their table.
Woods, a sophomore, is a large reason for that, as she’s able to impart the lessons she’d learned during her rookie campaign — one in which she netted 28 goals and added 13 assists — to those in the grade below.
“I feel like using my role as a captain, I’ve been able to speak up or even just help the younger girls to feel comfortable and welcome them,” she said. “Obviously, it’s scary coming in as a freshman. I feel like just being able to be a leader … has been an honor.”
In May, Woods traveled to Costa Rica with the Olympic Development Program 2009 National Team, with tangled with some the Central American country’s professional squads.
She cleared some hurdles in order to earn her inclusion on that roster. She had to recover quickly — in just three months — from a torn lateral collateral ligament in her knee suffered during club competition, along with adjusting to center back rather than her usual position at forward.
Woods was also cut from that ODP crew before regionals the year prior. More than 2,500 girls nationwide began the process this time, but only 18 made the roster.
“I wasn’t afraid,” Woods said. “I got some experience playing against older players in high school. I wasn’t afraid to attack. I wasn’t afraid to just try new things. … I had more experience and I wasn’t nervous like I would normally be.”
Woods also competes with the Pittsburgh Riverhounds’ 2009 Elite Clubs National League team.
“She’s very mature for her age,” Kukic said. “She was only 14 years old and playing against 17-, 18-year-olds — and doing really well. It’s just a testament to how hard she works. … At the end of the game, you could tell that she’s played a full game because she’s beat. She puts it all out there.”
Woods’ production at the high school level doesn’t quite resemble last year’s, Kukic said. She has 15 goals and six assists as of Oct. 10. It’s not due to any sort of competitive drop-off — quite the opposite.
“The schedule is a lot tougher this year,” Kukic said. “We have North Catholic, and Shady Side (Academy) just came into our section. It’s worlds better than it was last year. The competition is much better this year … but she’s still getting assists. She’s setting up teammates and she’s doing a good job just overall in the team concept.”
“I just want to do whatever I can do to help my team,” Woods said. “If it means someone else is scoring or I’m getting more assists — or overall as a team, we’re just doing well — that’s all that matters to me. My goals and numbers don’t matter at all.
“In total, we’re playing better than I think we did last year.”
That’s not to say she can’t produce a highlight play. Woods had one that stood out in the late going in a 1-0 section win over Burrell on Sept. 16.
“It was in overtime and their goalie cleared one low,” Kukic said. “It was going — I swear — 50, 60 miles per hour.”
“We were just pressuring up just in case,” Woods said. “Me expecting the ball to just fly over my head, I just kept running. … She blasted it right at my foot. I don’t even know how I stopped it. I don’t know what happened. I just brought it down, took my time and passed it into the goal.”
