It did not take long for the Charleroi Area boys' soccer team to learn from its mistakes.

After taking an early 1-0 lead against section powerhouse Carlynton early in the season, Charleroi got defensive and stopped attacking as they watched that lead turn into a 2-1 overtime loss.

Nearly three weeks later, Charleroi once again took an early lead against Carlynton, but this time they did not let up on offense and expanded that lead to 2-0 on the way to a critical 3-1 win.

"In the first game, we were winning but we kind of sat back and played defense," Charleroi coach George Watkins said. "They just started pounding and eventually scored and we could never recover.

"The second time [against Carlynton] I told them 'You saw what happened last time, so whoever scores the next goal is probably going to win.'"

Charleroi came out of the locker room after halftime and scored 15 minutes into the second half to seal the victory. Carlynton had been unbeaten in Section 4-A up until that game and the win also allowed Charleroi to capture a playoff spot. With one game remaining, a section contest at Monessen scheduled for this past Thursday, Charleroi was 9-4-1 and 8-3 in the section.

The Cougars missed the playoffs by one game last season after suffering a season ending loss to Bentworth.

Finishing was a big issue for Charleroi early in the season as the Cougars opened section play with a 2-3-1 record. Despite outshooting both Brentwood and Beth-Center by large margins, Charleroi still dropped both decisions, 2-1 and 4-3, respectively.

Goal-scoring has become less of a problem lately for Charleroi. The Cougars have scored three or more goals in four of their last five games.

"We were just struggling putting the ball in the net early on," said Watkins, in his eighth year as head coach at Charleroi. "We came around and started finishing better. We stuck to what we were trying to do and did not panic.

"We didn't move guys around or anything; we just had to start finishing when we were getting chance after chance. We went to practice every day and just shot and shot and it has paid off."

The Cougars returned an experienced team this year with nine players back who started games last season. The defense returns almost entirely intact with Zach Shulock, a returning defender, along with Greg Black returning at sweeper and Zach Hostovich at stopper. Watkins calls Hostovich the toughest player on the team. He battled back from a broken foot he sustained earlier this season.

Another returning starter, Jake Cheplic, was playing at stopper before being lost for the season with an injury. They were playing in front of goalie Larry Pierce, starting for the first time this season. Freshman Brent Nucci also starts on defense. Another freshman, Santino Tarquinio, stepped in earlier this season when Nucci was injured and he continues to see time.

Senior forward Dane Hostovich, Zach's older brother is a returning starter. He plays up top with Josh Hanson, who had his best game of the year in the 3-1 win against Carlynton. Hanson recorded a goal and an assist in the critical section game. Senior forward Brad Davoli comes off the bench and can fill in at midfield or forward.

In the midfield, Jake Schultz and Zach Boehme are returning starters on the outside with Chase Ayers and Lee Luckasevic starting at center midfield. Luckasevic is also the place kicker for the Cougars football team. Luckasevic, Dane Hostovich and Schultz have led the team in scoring this regular season.

Despite missing four games at the beginning of the season waiting to become eligible and coming off the bench, Vinznaz Greving, a foreign exchange student from Germany, has scored some of those most important goals of the season for Charleroi.

He has scored four goals this season, including game-winners against Bentworth and Chartiers-Houston in one-goal victories.