East Carolinian

Issue date: 9/11/08 Section: Sports

Media Credit: Robyn Cates

The ECU soccer team is off to a hot to start in its 2008 campaign, and senior goalie Amber Campbell is a big reason why. The two-time C-USA second team selection has allowed only two goals in the team's first four games. Two games were shutouts.

Sunday, the Pirates (3-1) defeated in-state rival UNC Wilmington 2-1 in a thrilling come-from-behind victory over the Seahawks. Junior Jessica Swanson scored the golden goal in OT.

It has been Campbell's steady play that has led ECU to their third straight 3-1 start.

But what else would be expected of the four-year starter from Fredrick, Maryland? She set the ECU single season record for minutes played by a goalie her freshman year with 1,917, and is sure to break the career mark later this season. With all that time in goal, she has developed into a top-notch stopper for the Pirates' defense.

Her career 1.05 goals against average is tops for an ECU net-minder. Her 0.79 GAA sophomore year, and 0.59 GAA last year ranks, are the top two single-season marks in program history. She also set the career mark for shutouts earlier this season when she kept a clean sheet against Francis Marion on the road in Florence, S.C.

Yet, even with all her individual achievements, Campbell is more focused on the team's accomplishments than hers.

"We want to win the conference this year and all our home games," she said. "We are really focused on getting that done."

Despite their good start, Campbell realizes that there is always room for improvement, for both her and the team.

"Watching film, coach [Rob Donnenwirth] was just talking about how we need to work better as team," Campbell said. "To move better with the ball as a team, and defend better together. And part of that is me communicating with the defense better."

She also mentioned the contribution of the younger players, and how they have had a hand in the team's success.

"The freshmen this year have really helped us out a lot," said Campbell. "They have stepped in and done really well for us."

Campbell credits a lot of her success to her older brother Zane, who played at Guilford College and holds the career GAA record for the Quakers.

"He got me started playing goalie when I was in ninth grade," she said. "He really taught me a lot about the game."

Campbell was selected for the preseason all-conference team this year, and has high hopes for living up to that honor.

"It's like coach told me, it's not where you are at the beginning of the season it's where you are at the end," she said.

Campbell will have plenty of help as five starters and 18 letter-winners return from last year's squad. That includes the team's leading scorer from last season, Blair Heffner, co-captains Madison Keller and Nicole Moore, and last season's lone representative to the C-USA All-Freshman team, Amanda Broz.

The Lady Pirates travel to Philadelphia this weekend to compete in the Penn tournament where they will face Hofstra on Friday and hosts Penn on Saturday.



This writer can be contacted at sports@theeastcarolinian.com.

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