Player Spotlight: Ian Cameron

J. Andrew Lockwood
Senior Editor / Columnist

While the resurgent men’s soccer team has risen to the top of the Atlantic Sun during the past few weeks, the Bears are starting to believe in themselves again. It took a while, especially after last year’s 2-11-5 campaign, but head coach Brad Ruzzo is seeing quite a bit of production on the field from his players. They’re a step quicker than their opponents, more aware of their own teammates, and hungrier for wins. While Ruzzo prepares his team for their upcoming matches, it’s up to the players to execute and in the thick of it all, Ian Cameron always seems to be leading his troops into battle.
With two seasons here at Mercer under his belt, the junior from Glasgow, Scotland looks to leave his mark here at Mercer during his two final seasons. Cameron’s offensive game has blossomed this year, with 6 goals through 11 games, giving him 11 career goals. He’ll happily score a game-winner, but he’s quick to credit his teammates after the game. The Cluster caught up with Cameron to him our best corner-kick:

Cluster: How have you and your teammates been able to turn around a team that went 2-11-5 last season to a team contending for an A-Sun title this season? Who do you credit for this turnaround?

IC: Last year can be best described as a transitional period for the men's soccer team on and off the field. For the players that were here already, it was hard coming to terms with a new coach and new ideas, while it was also difficult for our new coach Brad Ruzzo to stamp his authority and identity onto the team. We tried new ideas and played positions that were alien to many of us which didn't pay dividends on the field with respect to results. However, behind the scenes, especially in the spring season, we had a self-confidence in ourselves that this fall we would be a different story; with both the players and the coach conforming to a set ideal with respect to formation and playing style we all bought in to what it is we are trying to do, hopefully winning a conference title.

Cluster: What major changes did head coach Brad Ruzzo bring to the Bears a year ago when he was hired as the new coach?

IC: Coach has come from a very successful institution (Bradley University) and therefore has experienced what it takes for a team to reach the elite stages of college soccer. With that in mind, he has a good understanding of what his capabilities are as a coach and doesn't try to go outside them. We play in a manner which suits our abilities as players and try to be the hardest working team in the nation. He has brought stability to our program and with that a new found respect for what we are trying to achieve and the manner in which we go about it. He has also importantly distilled a belief in us that we can achieve great things this year if we apply ourselves adequately.

Cluster: Personally, what do you hope to achieve this year and in your remaining career here at Mercer?

IC: I want a conference title and to make the NCAA championship. That has been my goal since I came here and this year we are, perhaps, in the best position to push for such success. It is still early in conference play and we had a set back last Saturday against USC Upstate, but winning conference is still a realistic goal and one which I have every intention of going for. I am playing well this year, probably the best I have played for Mercer, and am helping the team with some much needed goals from midfield. A personal goal of mine is to compete for Conference player of the year, but such accolades only come when the team is successful, and if I do indeed contend that title it will be because Mercer is at the top of the standings.

Cluster: How is competing in this sport in the U.S. different for you as a Scottish player?

IC: Of course playing in the sunshine brings different challenges than playing in the howling rain every week with big Scottish Highlanders kicking you about. One main difference is that it is now very athletic and extremely fit players that kick you. Since coming over I have been most impressed by the physical attributes of the players over here. The technical side is improving rapidly as well. Calling my beloved sport 'soccer' will haunt me until my grave however. I feel the American market is something that Europe will quickly start looking into as there are boys over here that are talented enough to play abroad.

Cluster: What are some of the toughest lessons you've learned so far in your collegiate soccer career?

IC: The hardest aspect of college soccer for has been how short the season is, and how much you get punished for a single poor result. With us only playing around 18 games a season and all within a short time period it is a harsh reality when conference play ends and your season is over because of a few bad results. I felt bad for Campbell last year when they went undefeated in conference play then failed to reach the National Championships because of one bad half against Jacksonville in the tournament.

Cluster: What do you feel that you are able to bring to the table for the team in terms of your abilities? How do you mesh with the team's playing style?

IC: Of course everybody in a team brings different qualities to a team. I am more of an offensive player who tries to create goal scoring opportunities for my team. For me to be given the freedom to express my abilities I need a defensive unit who cover me in situations during the course of a game. This relationship has been pivotal this season in allowing me to commit forward with the knowledge that my teammates will cover me. I have developed my game to be more dangerous in attack and spend less time receiving possession back deep in my own half where I am less of a dangerous threat to other teams. This has been a focus of my coach [Brad Ruzzo] in practice and the team as a whole which will hopefully prove decisive in big matches coming up.

Cluster: Why should the average sports fan come watch the soccer games at Bear Field? What makes Mercer's team special?

IC: Fans can expect our team to give 100% to every game. We are constantly in tight, intense matches which are great to watch as a sports fan. You can come sing songs and the general atmosphere is generally great down at Bear Field for both the guys and girls games. In the course of the next few weeks we will be playing games which could ultimately win Mercer a conference title. With the season closing on October 31st against UNF and with the Woman's Basketball team providing an opportunity for everyone to tailgate beforehand it should be a fun atmosphere out there.