All-NWADG Girls Soccer: Coach C Leads Lady Pioneers To State Title

Fabrizio Campagnola, Gentry; girls soccer coach of the year.
Fabrizio Campagnola, Gentry; girls soccer coach of the year.

GENTRY -- His players tell him he's never happy, but Fabrizio Campagnola had a big smile on his face after his Gentry Lady Pioneers defeated Central Arkansas Christian 2-0 to claim the Class 4A state girls soccer title in May.

The guy his players call Coach C saw his team come together this season.

"Before it was like let's do soccer because there's nothing else," Campagnola said. "Now, they see things that I want them to do kind of make sense.

"Soccer is my passion. If I had a dream job it would be to do soccer all day."

The 48-year-old, who finished his fifth season as a head coach, has been selected as the All-NWADG Girls Soccer Coach of the Year for his efforts.

A year ago, the Lady Pioneers enjoyed a strong season buoyed by then-freshman Amber Ellis, who set a state record with 68 goals. But they fell 2-1 in the state quarterfinals to Mena, which would finish as state runner-up.

Gentry finished second in the 4A-1 Conference to Shiloh Christian this spring, but put together a fabulous run to the state title, allowing just one goal in four matches. The Lady Pioneers outscored opponents by a combined score of 22-1 in four state tournament matches. The lone goal came in the opening minutes of their first match against Arkadelphia.

Campagnola said the community rallied around his team, even if they didn't know a lot about soccer. The only other state team title Gentry has won in the past 25 years came in wrestling and cheer in 2010.

"They were excited," Campagnola said. "Some of them said we aren't really sure what's happening, but it's fun."

-- Paul Boyd • @nwapaulb

Sports on 06/10/2015

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