2-sport standout Linhart racked up accolades at Fox Chapel

By: Marty Stewart
Friday, May 17, 2019 | 8:03 PM

This is the fourth in a series of profiles of the 2019 Fox Chapel Sports Hall of Fame inductees. The banquet will be June 8 at Harmar House. For more information, contact Jim Perry at gymbeck63@aol.com.

Molly (Linhart) Campbell graduated from Fox Chapel in 2006 and excelled in soccer and track. In soccer, she was a four-year letterwinner and a co-captain in 2005. She was selected to the All-Section 2-AAA team in 2003 and ’05 and was the leading scorer in ’03 and ’04.

In 2003, she was named a Valley News Dispatch first-team All-Star.

She was also a four-year letterwinner in track. She was a two-time WPIAL finalist in the 800 meters and set a school record in the event. She qualified for the PIAA championships in 2006 and made the VND All-Star team in 2004. She received the Fox Chapel Most Inspirational Female Athlete award in track in 2006.

“I have so many memorable moments from those days,” Linhart said. “I remember sneaking off to get ice cream when we were supposed to be running the four-mile loop on long-distance days for track practice. We had so much fun singing and dancing through the aisles of the bus going to away soccer games.

“I still remember scoring the winning goal against Shaler with one second left in double overtime. My best friend, Julie Harris, was playing on defense for Shaler. We didn’t know each other at the time but went on to play college soccer together and became roommates in Philadelphia after college. We were also bridesmaids in each other’s weddings. I still tease her about that goal. Another highlight was getting to play on the team with my older sister, Leigh, for two years.”

Linhart, who majored in business management, concentrated on soccer at Bucknell. She made the Patriot League All-Tournament Team in 2007. The Bison were the regular-season champs in 2006 and ’07, and Linhart scored in overtime against Army to lift Bucknell into the 2007 Patriot League championship game.

She and her husband, Andy, live in Hermosa Beach, Calif., where she is a strategy manager for Deloitte Consulting. Andy was a pitcher on the Bucknell baseball team.

Though she’s taken a step back from competitive sports, Linhart is still active.

“I am an avid runner and Peloton rider. I certainly don’t run the 800 for fun anymore,” Linhart said.

“I was quite surprised when I heard that I would be inducted to the FC Hall of Fame. It was a very nice acknowledgement. I will have close family and a few former teammates there to enjoy the experience.”

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