Be ready.

That’s the advice that Portland Hearts of Pine head coach Bobby Murphy gave to Aboubacar Camara, who made his third start of the season in Saturday’s 2-1 win over Spokane Velocity.

In the 62nd minute, the ball fell to his feet. A misplayed first attempt led to a shot that kissed the post to beat the goalkeeper and bring the game back to level terms.

“When the ball came in, I missed,” Camara reflected. “I was like, ‘Oh no, I can't miss this second one. I got to make sure I get contact and hit it on target.’”

Camara now has two goals on the season after scoring against the New York Cosmos in the season opener.

A prolific collegiate striker who most recently scored five goals in 11 games as a graduate student at Penn State, Camara is adjusting to life as a professional.

On Saturday, he had 14 touches and finished his one shot.

“Abou could always finish,” Murphy said. “I think he had a goal every other game in college. I think what Abou is learning now is the other stuff it takes to be a pro: the pressing and the hold-up play, and all that other stuff that maybe he could get away with in college not excelling at because he could just pop up in the box.

“I think to Abou’s credit, he's got two goals on probably like three chances.”

The full octane system that the Hearts deploy requires a lot of hard work from everyone on the field. Camara said that while its the first time he’s played this way, he’s come to like it.

“Honestly, it's good for strikers because you press and press, and if you win it, you’re right there,” Camara said.

With Titus Washington out a minimum of three to four months after undergoing knee surgery, Camara could be in line for more minutes.

If his name is called, he will be ready, even if that wasn’t the case when the team did karaoke a few weeks ago.

Scheduled to sing “Three Little Birds” with Jay Tee Kamara, Michel Poon-Angeron, and Kemali Green, Camara was told there could only be three singers.

He took a seat but was still expected to perform when his part came.

“I wasn't ready,” Camara said, eliciting laughter from the media.