Belfast’s Smith set for NCAAs> Goalie starts for ODU

Goalie Staci Smith never won a state field hockey championship at Belfast High School.

On Friday, she will be playing for something even more significant.

The 20-year-old Smith is the starting goalie for the Old Dominion University (Va.) Lady Monarchs, who will be trying to win their first NCAA field hockey championship since 1992 and eighth overall.

Old Dominion, 21-2, will face Virginia, 19-2, in Friday’s 2:45 p.m. semifinal at UConn. Defending champ North Carolina, 18-3, will face Princeton, 16-3, in Friday’s noon opener. The title game will be Sunday at 1.

Smith, a junior who transferred to ODU from Virginia Commonwealth two years ago, has earned second team All-South Regional and All-Colonial Athletic Association honors this season thanks to her 11 shutouts, .992 goals-against average, .829 save percentage and 21-2 record.

“It’s pretty incredible to be starting for one of the top teams in the nation. That alone gives you a great feeling. It’s something I never thought I’d have,” said Smith. Smith earned her starting spot the hard way.

First, she lost her scholarship when she transferred.

“That’s the penalty you pay if you transfer within the CAA,” said Smith.

Then she played only 32 minutes a year ago while backing up fellow sophomore Jaime Hill.

“I said to myself that I had to do something to win the position,” said Smith.

So what she did is a lot of individual work with her coaches and teammates in addition to the team’s winter-spring training sessions.

“Then, over the summer, I sacrificed myself by staying here and working out instead of going home,” said Smith. “I wanted to keep my skills in line.”

The past year has been a productive one.

“I learned a lot about the game, things I never knew I had to know. I can read the game a lot better now,” said Smith.

The 5-foot-5, 145-pound Smith has gained 20 pounds thanks to her workouts and said “I’ve got a lot more power in my whole body now.”

Old Dominion coach Beth Anders said Smith “has done a good job. I wanted to have somebody in there who makes the routine save and does the simple things. That’s what she has done.”

Smith has been pleased with her season but said, “I definitely have some areas to improve in. That’s what life is all about: improving. I’ve always believed that hard work pays off. My spot isn’t guaranteed so I have to work hard to keep it.”

Smith had always wanted to attend Old Dominion but changed her mind at the last minute and wound up at VCU because she thought it was an up-and-coming program and she’d get lots of playing time. Smith played in 14 games as a freshman, posting a 4.81 GAA and a .739 save percentage for a 3-16 program that has never been to the NCAA tourney.