Daily Pilot Athlete of the Week: Amy Ross

Barry Faulkner

Though some might say she has saved the best for last, a more

thorough look at the events leading up to Newport Harbor High senior Amy

Ross’ final postseason surge would indicate she is simply claiming her

just due.

After all, the Sailors’ girls soccer standout has been sidelined with

injuries nearly half of her four-year varsity career.

Now, however, she is finally healthy enough to recapture some of the

promise she showed as a freshman starter. And, the results have been

impressive.

After battling an early season ankle injury she said forced her to

miss five or six games, Ross shifted from midfield to the forward line to

help energize Coach Jason Sorrell’s offense.

That energy has turned into pure electricity in the CIF Southern

Section Division II playoffs, where Ross has scored all four Newport

goals, including a hat trick in Saturday’s first-round win over

University. Ross’ roll has helped propel the program in to Friday’s

quarterfinals for the first time in school history. It also made her the

Daily Pilot Athlete of the Week.

Ross’ last two games have also helped erase a frustrating past. The

September before her sophomore season, she injured cartilage and

partially tore a knee ligament in club competition. The injury required

season-ending surgery. Displaying the competitive nature that helps her

succeed on the field, Ross tried to come back too quickly and kept

re-injuring the knee. The result was infrequent availability her junior

season and growing frustration.

But, after overcoming the ankle problem that set her back in the

preseason, Ross, a center midfielder on her Irvine Strikers club team,

said she has thoroughly enjoyed her move up front for the Sailors.

“I love it,” Ross said of joining All-American Amy Burlingham at

forward. “I’m having so much fun.”

Sorrell said Ross’ ball-control skills, which he deems the best on the

team, have provided a much-needed play making presence up front.

“She has such a wonderful touch, she can hold the ball up for us,”

Sorrell said.

Clearly, however, Ross does more than set up teammates. At 5-foot-9

and naturally aggressive, she can dominate balls in the air. And, with

ample quickness and strength, she is a formidable challenge for any

defender.

“I think I’m pretty good holding and distributing the ball right at

me, but I can also receive the ball on the run,” she said.

Ross’ hat trick against Pacifica, the second of her prep career (her

first came during a one-sided nonleague game her freshman year),

displayed her scoring versatility.

“She boomed one in just inside the 18-yard box after making a couple

of touches,” Sorrell said. “She scored on a header off a free kick and

also beat the goalie on a breakaway after a steal.”

Ross, who estimated she scored five goals in the regular-season, said

Saturday was indeed a memorable game.

“Everyone just kept giving me the ball,” she said. “I kind of didn’t

believe it myself.”

Ross’ belief in her teammates, however, came through well before she

began finding the net against University.

“After they scored to go ahead of us, 1-0, Amy came along the sideline

and yelled to our bench ‘We are not going to lose this game,’ ” Sorrell

said.

Ross said her timely tallies also made good on a teammate’s pregame

prediction.

“Katie Yeager told me before the game I was going to score and we were

going to win,” Ross said. “She said she could just feel it.”

Though Ross feels fortunate to be able to contribute in her swan song

season, she also believes she has not yet returned to 100% health.

“I don’t think I’ve reached my peak yet,” she said.

A scary thought for opposing goalies.