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Taylor Smith adds punch to Belmont U. Soccer - Dunwoody Crier: Sports

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Taylor Smith adds punch to Belmont U. Soccer

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Posted: Tuesday, November 29, 2011 9:54 am

Despite suffering a season-ending foot injury, Belmont University’s Taylor Smith had a standout-freshman soccer season.

Smith, a midfielder who graduated from Chamblee High School in May, started the first ten games of the 2011 season. In those 10 games, Smith scored three goals and contributed a total of seven points. Six games into her rookie season, Smith scored against the University of Alabama Birmingham off a corner kick. In the next game against Austin Peay, she scored again off a corner kick. Twelve days later on the road at Arkansas State, she scored once more.

“There is no better feeling than the one you get after scoring a goal. During the Austin Peay game, the ball was served in and I beat the keeper to the ball and ended up scoring with my head,” said Smith, who grew up in Dunwoody. “In the UAB game, the ball was served in, and it was bouncing around in the box. I shot it with my laces, and it went in.”

Even though she did not score, one of Smith’s most significant games of the season was on Sept. 23. In Belmont’s 2-1 victory over Kennesaw State, Smith had her first college opportunity to play before her friends, former teammates and coaches. The opportunity was sentimental for Smith because she has always wanted to play in the KSU stadium, which is the home field for the Atlanta Beat.

“I was more excited than nervous. Since I knew a bunch of my friends were coming it gave me an energy boost, I felt like I could not get tired and that nothing could stop me,” said Smith.  

When Smith played against the University South Carolina Upstate, she played a solid first half. Smith delivered the assist to the only goal scored in the game, but then there was a moment of peril.

“I planted my foot wrong and turned on it which caused my fifth metatarsal bone in my foot to snap,” said Smith. “At first it was really hard for me to deal with it because I have not been injured like this before.”

Unlike when Smith broke her nose and wrist during her junior year at Chamblee, she could not find a way to play or exercise, which was very frustrating for her competitive spirit.

“After I had surgery [in which a screw was inserted into her foot], I realized that there was nothing I could do but wait,” said Smith. “I still went to all of my team’s games and cheered them on. Cheering can go a long way, and I know that from personal experience.”

Belmont, a member of the Atlanta Sun Conference, finished the season 8-8-1. At the end of the season, Smith was tied with two teammates for most goals scored. In addition, she was second on the team for most shots on goal, and she finished second in points scored.

The transition from playing in region 6-AAAA to the division-1 level has been almost seamless because of the help of upperclassmen.

 “I love Belmont and everything about being a college athlete. I could not be happier anywhere else,” said Smith. “I feel like if I had decided to go to school and not play soccer then something would be missing, and I would not be happy.”

 

 

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