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Recruiting: Canfield’s Smith opts for Kent State
By BILL SULLIVAN
CANFIELD
Canfield High School senior Audrey Smith learned an important lesson about perseverance during the fall, and this message wasn’t delivered in the classroom.
An outstanding prep soccer player, Smith was contacted by Kent State prior to her senior season. The Golden Flashes were interested in her becoming a part of their team.
Then, as these things frequently do, the recruiting slowed and she began to reassess her potential.
She considered offers from Division II and III schools (St. Vincent, North Carolina Wesleyan, Walsh, Baldwin-Wallace and Capital) and tried to balance the amount of playing time she might get as a college freshman.
Still, “I really, really wanted to go to Kent,” Smith said.
Then Canfield won the district tournament and was paired with West Geauga in the regional.
“They [Kent] came to the tournament game to see a girl on the other team,” Smith said.
“They saw me play and made a spot for me on their team. I’m eligible next fall.”
Thus, after nearly ruling out the Golden Flashes, Smith will become a member of the Kent team.
“Kent was always my No. 1 choice,” she said.
Phil Simone coached Smith her final two years with the Cardinals and he discussed her strengths.
“In the offseason, before her senior year, Audrey decided she really wanted to play in college and to be the go-to player on our team,” Simone said.
“She got herself in better shape. It was her work effort and her dedication [that distinguished Smith],” Simone said.
In the district final against Fitch, Smith assisted on the only goal of the contest.
“In preparation for our game against Canfield, there was no doubt that we were well aware that if we were going to shut out Canfield, we had to neutralize Audrey and limit her looks at goal,” said Fitch coach Carlo Trafficante.
He continued that a quick strike by Smith initiated a series that led to the lone score and Canfield’s trip to the regional.
The selection of a college has been just one highlight of a hectic senior year.
Smith was The Vindicator’s player of the year as well as the first Canfield female player to achieve first-team All-Ohio status. She was the Youngstown District Coaches Association co-player of the year.
She scored 19 goals this year, including four in one game.
Including the busy athletic career, the 3.4 GPA student plays indoor soccer in Cleveland and has a part-time job.
“She was clearly the best overall true soccer player in our area in 2009,” said Trafficante.
Still, she’s reached an important achievement — she’s a future college Division I soccer player. That’s a goal she set for herself and achieved through a lot of hard work.
You could say that goal is as good as a ball in the back of the net.