Yesterday, Bearcats freshman forward Megan Smith was tabbed the American Soccer Rookie of The Week after a dominating performance in the teams 5-1 victory over Stony Brook where Smith recorded her first two collegiate goals to help the Bearcats remain undefeated vs a very solid Stony Brook team. Smith, a freshman from Springfield, Ohio has been a key player for the Bearcats so far to start the season and has gained a lot of praise from head coach Neil Stafford, as Smith joins a very talented group of freshmen that will be a very big part of the Bearcats success for years to come.
“It was really great to see them make an impact on the field, they saw a lot of minutes today. It was really good to see Megan get what she deserves; I know she has been a little frustrated with herself but today you saw her quality, ability to go at players, I thought when we got her into isolation and 1-1 situations, she was always going to be dangerous” said Head Coach Neil Stafford following the Bearcats 5-1 victory over Stony Brook.”
Smith rattled off her first two collegiate goals last Thursday in the teams 5-1 victory over Stony Brook. Smith found the back of the net for her first career goal in the 73rd minute where Smith split the Seawolves defense and fired a shot from about 18 yards out for her first collegiate goal to give the Bearcats a 3-1 lead. Smith would then put the hammer on the nails as she followed teammate Paige Miller, who scored in the 87th minute to give the Bearcats a 4-1 lead, where Smith would come in and get her 2nd goal of the match in the 89th minute as the Bearcats would get some insurance as they would eventually take the match 5-1 over a very tough Stony Brook team.
“It’s really exciting and shows our hard work is paying off, like teammate Sarah Kate Rath it was her first career goal too, and we both just described it as an incredible feeling and something you can’t compare too, it’s the best feeling ever.” Said Smith Following the Bearcats 5-1 win over Stony Brook.”
Smith, a speedy freshman has seen a lot of opportunities to start the season as she entered the match with seven shots, but just one of those on goal but just couldn’t connect until the 5th match of the season, but the freshman felt the sense of relief to finally see two hit the back of the net and elaborate on what she was feeling after scoring her first two collegiate goals of her career.
“It’s a relief, it’s awesome and something I just can’t describe the way I jumped up was so crazy, it was like a big weight was lifted off my shoulders.”
The Bearcats who are now (3-1-2) on the season will be back in action this Thursday where they travel to Kalamazoo, Michigan to take on Western Michigan as they look to get back in the win column after falling to a very good Pittsburgh team Sunday in a 2-0 match before the return home for a two-week homestand at Gettler Stadium.
