Soccer: Ellis, Linch potent 1-2 punch for Lady Pioneers

Amber Ellis (left) and Ana Linch have formed a potent 1-2 punch for the Gentry Lady Pioneers, the defending Class 4A state champions who will try to go back-to-back when they face Central Arkansas Christian at 2 p.m. Saturday at Razorback Field in a rematch of last year’s title match.
Amber Ellis (left) and Ana Linch have formed a potent 1-2 punch for the Gentry Lady Pioneers, the defending Class 4A state champions who will try to go back-to-back when they face Central Arkansas Christian at 2 p.m. Saturday at Razorback Field in a rematch of last year’s title match.

GENTRY -- When Gentry girls soccer coach Fabrizio Campagnola found out Ana Linch was moving into the district, he had trouble containing his excitement at the thought of her teaming with high-scoring Amber Ellis.

But when Ellis required surgery to repair a torn anterior cruciate ligament in her knee in October, that excitement was replaced by anxiety about how he would fill the shoes of his leading scorer.

State Girls Soccer Championships

at Razorback Field, Fayetteville

Today

Class 7A —Bentonville vs. Cabot, 10 a.m.

Class 6A — Siloam Springs vs. Russellville, 2 p.m.

Saturday

Class 5A — Pulaski Academy vs. Harrison, 10 a.m.

Class 4A — Gentry vs. Central Arkansas Christian, 2 p.m.

However, Ellis returned sooner than expected from surgery to form that potent 1-2 punch with Linch to help Gentry (14-3) return to the state soccer finals. The Lady Pioneers will go for back-to-back Class 4A state titles when they face Central Arkansas Christian in the finals at 2 p.m. Saturday at Razorback Field in Fayetteville.

Campagnola said Linch became an even more important part of the team when senior Brieann Ward went down in the opening match of the season with a knee injury. She's not naturally a scorer, but is more comfortable setting up teammates with passes.

Campagnola said Linch's scoring was sort of a necessity though with both Ellis and Ward sidelined.

"We're fortunate for sure," Campagnola said. "She didn't play offense at Siloam Springs, but I put her at forward and told her, 'You're going to score goals now.' She's like, 'But I'm used to passing the ball.' I said, 'You can do that too, but you can score also. Don't be shy.'"

And score she did as Linch racked up a team-high 36 goals to go with seven assists. Her fighting spirit and good attitude have also been huge assets to the team.

"She doesn't just score, she works for everybody," Campagnola said. "She's the perfect definition of a team player. I remember one of these state tournament games, we're winning and she's still running. She never gives up, and the whole team kind of follows that example."

Linch's passion for soccer shows on the field and she has become a leader for the Lady Pioneers, despite being new to the school.

"I was always a leader on the field because it's something I love and I don't like to lose," Linch said. "When we get down I always tell people, 'It's not over. We can come back from this.'"

Linch also has state tournament experience helping Siloam Springs to back-to-back 5A state titles over the last two years. She also helped Mena to a 4A state runner-up finish as a freshman.

Since Ellis returned to action, she and Linch have made the Lady Pioneers tough to beat. Gentry outscored three state tournament opponents by a combined score of 18-1. They are responsible for 14 of those goals in the state tournament (eight by Linch), and they combined for 10 assists.

Ellis said Linch has done a good job of assuming a leadership role at a new school.

"Ana's always been very talented, but she's also been really humble about it," said Ellis, who played with Linch in a youth league in Siloam Springs several years ago. "It's like she's been here the whole time."

Both agreed it took a little time to understand how to play with each other, but it's worked well lately.

"It's different talking about it and actually doing it," Ellis said. "I think it took us a couple of games to understand what each other wanted, but we picked it up pretty fast."

Ellis and Linch are hoping to pick up another state title Saturday.

Sports on 05/20/2016

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