Gentry Coach Fabrizio Campagnolla began last season with some reservations because his roster had only one senior.
It didn't take Campagnolla long to realize that having one senior was inconsequential with the presence of a freshman like Amber Ellis.
Ellis, 15, broke the state's single-season scoring record in girls soccer with 68 goals last season, and has been named the All-Arkansas Preps Outstanding Player of the Year.
The previous record belonged to Haley Hatcher, who scored 63 goals as a sophomore at Central Arkansas Christian in 2010.
"I was cautious and said, 'We'll see,' " Campagnolla recalled of putting Ellis in the starting lineup at the beginning of the season. "And then at some point in the season I had to take her out. ... She could have scored more."
Ellis said she didn't necessarily expect that many goals either.
"I just thought it was a really fun season because it was my first year in high school," Ellis said. "I wasn't really thinking about breaking the record. I was just playing to play. ... It's pretty unbelievable."
Ellis said she was told the previous single-season scoring record at Gentry was 35 goals, and she set that number as a goal before the season. But Ellis said she didn't know about the state record until one of her former coaches informed her when she neared 50 goals.
"I'm already this close, so why not?" Ellis said, recalling the situation.
Ellis said she broke Hatcher's record in the conference finals against Berryville despite playing in stifling heat.
"I was excited, and I was relieved, and then I was sweaty and hot," Ellis said, recalling how she felt when her record-breaking goal hit the back of the net. "Then I realized, 'I beat that.' "
Her goals helped Gentry to a 16-5-1 record before a loss in the Class 4A state tournament quarterfinals to eventual finalist Maumelle. Now that she has the single-season scoring record, Ellis said her new focus is getting Gentry further in the state tournament.
"She brought intensity," Campagnolla said. "The fact that she was a freshman, everybody overlooked that and nobody cared because of the example she set on and off the field."
Campagnolla raved about Ellis's technical skills -- for good reason -- as she weaved through nearly every defense she faced last season. But Ellis' willingness to pass and set up teammates particularly pleased Campagnolla.
"If she has an opportunity to score, she'll take it," Campagnolla said. "But if she has an opportunity to give someone else a goal, she'll do that too. She is there to win."
Ellis said that many of her teammates play other sports at Gentry, a Class 4A school in Northwest Arkansas, and said she was able to assist a less-experienced teammate and watch her celebrate her first goal.
"These girls are my best friends," Ellis said. "I want to see them succeed, more than myself, I think. So if they have a chance to score, I will pass them the ball."
Ellis also plays club soccer with Arkansas Comets FC, and scored in several games against nationally ranked opponents.
"It's good playing with players who are more experienced," Ellis said. "I was just excited we could play with them."
Ellis, who has three years of eligibility remaining and three years to mature physically, said improving her footwork and her first touches after receiving passes are areas of emphasis.
"Sometimes you don't want to overcoach her," Campagnolla said. "Many times I've found that she'll do something and figure it out herself. ... She's smart enough she can figure out how to adjust.
"I can't wait to see when she's a senior."
Sports on 06/22/2014