Ellis enjoys record year on soccer field n Gentry freshman eclipses state scoring tally with 68 goals for the season

Photo by Anthony Reyes Gentry freshman, Amber Ellis, set the state record for goals scored in a season, with 68.
Photo by Anthony Reyes Gentry freshman, Amber Ellis, set the state record for goals scored in a season, with 68.

GENTRY -- Gentry girls' soccer coach Fabrizio Campagnola had heard others talk about Amber Ellis and her soccer skills. He had no real idea just how good a player he was getting this season, but he figured it out quickly.

Ellis turned out to be a real game changer for Campagnola and his Lady Pioneers, setting a single-season record for goals scored and leading a young team back to the state tournament.

The freshman scored a record 68 goals, eclipsing the previous record of 63, and was named the All-NWA Media Girls Soccer Newcomer of the Year for her accomplishment.

The 15-year-old may show her age as she chooses her words carefully in an interview, but Campagnola and others agree she has no such issues on the soccer field.

"She's amazing, a great girl to coach," Campagnola said. "She plays with a lot of speed and intensity. She also has very good technique and understanding of the game."

Ellis admitted she likes to win. That was her biggest motivation for scoring, at least in the beginning.

"Probably the first three-quarters of the season, I was just trying to score and put the game away," Ellis said. "Then somebody, I don't remember who it was, told me the record. At that point, I was like only 10 away, then I started to think about it a little bit."

Ellis surpassed the record in a big way, scoring all five goals in Gentry's 5-4 win over Berryville to lift the Lady Pioneers to their second consecutive 4A-1 Conference title. That performance gave her 65 goals, breaking the old record held by Kelsey Hatch of Central Arkansas Christian set in 2010.

She added three more goals in Gentry's first-round win in the state tournament but was shut out in the Lady Pioneers' 2-1 loss to eventual Class 4A runner-up Maumelle. Ellis could have scored more, since she spent the second half of several games sitting on the bench in blowout wins, Campagnola said.

Ellis also understood the larger goal of team success, Campagnola said. He said there's no question Ellis has a scorer's mentality, but not in a selfish way.

"Her teammates see that she's humble," Campagnola said. "They also see she wants to win. She's a leader even though she's young. As the season went on, teams would foul her, and in the state tournament, they were more physical with her but she kept her head, kept her composure. She's a good example."

Ellis acknowledged she enjoyed the leadership role and the team's chemistry this season. The role as a team leader was different since she often plays with girls older than her because of her skill level.

"It's nice they want me to say stuff," Ellis said. "A lot of my best friends are on the team, and we get along really well."

Ellis, who has played club soccer for several years, isn't just standing out because she's playing at a smaller school either. Several area coaches agreed she would perform well at a bigger school.

Rogers Heritage girls' coach Craig Frank watched Ellis excel against his junior varsity.

"I think she had 10 or 11 goals against us," Frank said. "I believe she's got the touch and the skills that she should be able to grow at any level. I've coached a lot of players at a lot of different levels, and she's definitely a talent. Barring injury or any other thing you can't predict, she can only go up from here."

When asked what's next, Ellis has no problem knowing what she wants, and it has nothing to do with another individual record.

"Winning state," Ellis said. "That would be great."

The Lady Pioneers graduated only one starter from this year's team, and Ellis is hoping to search the hallways to recruit more players for next year's team.

But Ellis will return for her sophomore season, and that should be a good place to start for Campagnola and the Lady Pioneers.

Sports on 06/11/2014