Sammy Smith (soccer, born 2005)

Last updated

Sammy Smith
Stanford at NC State 2024 - 052 (cropped).jpg
Smith with Stanford in 2024
Personal information
Full name Samantha Elizabeth Smith
Date of birth (2005-09-22) September 22, 2005 (age 19) [1]
Height 5 ft 6 in (1.68 m)
Position(s) Defender, forward
Team information
Current team
 Stanford Cardinal
Number 13
College career
YearsTeamApps(Gls)
2024– Stanford Cardinal 13 (0)
International career‡
2022 United States U-17 2 (2)
2023–2024 United States U-19 6 (0)
‡ National team caps and goals as of June 3, 2024

Samantha Elizabeth Smith (born September 22, 2005) is an American college soccer player for the Stanford Cardinal and cross-country skier for the United States Ski Team.

Contents

With the United States youth national soccer team, Smith appeared at the 2022 FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup and won bronze at the 2023 Pan American Games.

Early life

Raised in Boise, Idaho, Smith participated and excelled in numerous sports growing up: Nordic, freestyle, and cross-country skiing, soccer, cross-country running, track and field, football, ice hockey, and swimming. She was homeschooled for much of her childhood. [2] [3] She played football during middle school as a tailback, cornerback, kicker, and punter. [4] In her freshman year at Boise High School, she won the IHSAA 5A state cross-country running titles in the 5,000 meters and team events as well as state track titles in the 1,600 meters, 3,200 meters, 4 × 400 meter relay, 4 × 800 meter relay, and team events. For her achievements, she was named the Idaho Gatorade Player of the Year in both sports in 2021. [2] [5] She placed second in cross-country running the following year on a broken leg and seventh the next year having just returned from the 2022 FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup in India. [6]

Smith scored 27 goals for the Boise soccer team between her junior and senior years and was named the Idaho Gatorade Player of the Year both years (2023, 2024). The team won the state championship and finished runners-up respectively, though Smith missed the playoffs both years while on duty with the youth national team. [7] [8] She played ECNL club soccer for the Boise Timber Thorns. [9]

College soccer career

Smith committed to play college soccer for the Stanford Cardinal in 2023. [10] In her freshman season in 2024, she appeared in 13 games as a substitute and helped the team to the NCAA tournament semifinals. [11]

International soccer career

Smith was called up to training camp with the United States under-15 team in 2020. [12] She was an alternate for the under-17 team at the 2022 CONCACAF Women's U-17 Championship before making the roster at the 2022 FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup. [13] [14] She made her international debut in the third group stage game at the World Cup, scoring twice as the United States won 4–0 against Morocco. [15] She was an unused substitute in the quarterfinal match where the team fell to Nigeria on penalties. [16]

Smith played for the under-19 team at the 2023 Pan American Games, where they faced other countries' senior sides. She appeared in all five games and helped the team finish in third place. [17] [18]

Skiing career

Smith followed her sister into skiing when she was five. [3] She spent winters in Sun Valley, Idaho, growing up. [4] She preferred freestyle skiing before she broke her leg and switched to Nordic skiing in 2021. [6]

Smith was first named to the United States Ski Team for cross-country skiing in 2022. [19] She made her World Cup debut in Norway in March 2023. [4] She won silver in the freestyle sprint at the 2024 Nordic Junior World Ski Championships, the best ever result for an American in the event. [20]

Smith was promoted to the US Ski A Team in 2024, becoming one of the youngest skiers to make the top team at 18 years old. [1]

Personal life

Smith's father, Stephen, is a radiation oncologist who played college soccer at Duke. Her mother, Kristin, is a lawyer who rowed crew and swam at Stanford. [2] [9] She has an older sister, Logan, who plays soccer with her at Stanford, and a younger brother, Tucker. [2] [21]

References

  1. 1 2 "Sammy Smith". U.S. Ski & Snowboard . Retrieved May 14, 2025.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Mentzer, Jon (March 18, 2022). "The Saga of Sammy". Idaho Mountain Express . Retrieved May 14, 2025.
  3. 1 2 Hall, Ella (June 13, 2022). "Q&A with New Faces on the U.S. Ski Team: Sammy Smith". FasterSkier. Retrieved May 14, 2025.
  4. 1 2 3 Zaccadi, Nick (November 13, 2024). "Sammy Smith is a World Cup performer in soccer ... and cross-country skiing". NBC Sports . Retrieved May 14, 2025.
  5. ↑ "Gatorade 2020–2021: Player of the Year – Girls Cross Country – Idaho". Gatorade . Retrieved May 14, 2025.
    "Gatorade 2020–2021: Player of the Year – Girls Track & Field – Idaho". Gatorade . Retrieved May 14, 2025.
  6. 1 2 Shinn, Peggy (May 22, 2024). "Keep an Eye on Up-and-Comer Sammy Smith". Cross Country Skier. Retrieved May 14, 2025.
  7. ↑ "Gatorade 2022–2023: Player of the Year – Girls Soccer – Idaho". Gatorade . Retrieved May 14, 2025.
  8. ↑ "Gatorade 2023–2024: Player of the Year – Girls Soccer – Idaho". Gatorade . Retrieved May 14, 2025.
  9. 1 2 "Sammy Smith". Stanford Cardinal . Retrieved May 14, 2025.
  10. ↑ Clark, Travis (February 13, 2023). "SIMA Recruiting Roundup: February 13-19". TopDrawerSoccer . Retrieved May 14, 2025.
  11. ↑ Lycklama, Michael (January 9, 2025). "Boise native wins U.S. national ski title. She started training just 10 days earlier". Idaho Statesman . Retrieved May 14, 2025.
  12. ↑ "U15 GNT to hold first training camp of 2020". United States Soccer Federation. March 2, 2020. Retrieved May 14, 2025– via TopDrawerSoccer .
  13. ↑ "U17 WNT roster announced for Concacaf". United States Soccer Federation. April 11, 2022. Retrieved May 14, 2025– via TopDrawerSoccer .
  14. ↑ "Astrain Names U17 WNT World Cup Roster". United States Soccer Federation. September 23, 2022. Retrieved May 14, 2025– via TopDrawerSoccer .
  15. ↑ "Braces From Charlotte Kohler And Samantha Smith Lead USA To 4-0 Win Against Morocco To Top Group A At 2022 FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup In India". United States Soccer Federation. October 17, 2022. Retrieved May 14, 2025.
  16. ↑ "USA Comes Up Just Short In FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup Quarterfinal, Falling To Nigeria In Penalty Kicks, 4–3, After 1–1 Tie In Regulation". United States Soccer Federation. October 21, 2022. Retrieved May 14, 2025.
  17. ↑ Sammy Smith at Soccerway OOjs UI icon edit-ltr-progressive.svg
  18. ↑ "U19 WNT Roster Named for Pan-American Games". United States Soccer Federation. October 9, 2023. Retrieved May 14, 2025– via TopDrawerSoccer .
  19. ↑ Horrocks, Tom (October 17, 2022). "2022-23 U.S. Cross Country Team Announced". U.S. Ski & Snowboard . Retrieved May 14, 2025.
  20. ↑ Bentley, Leann (February 5, 2024). "Smith Secures Silver Medal at Junior World Championships". U.S. Ski & Snowboard . Retrieved May 14, 2025.
  21. ↑ "Logan Smith". Stanford Cardinal . Retrieved May 14, 2025.
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