TCA’s Smith headed for Arkansas St.

Maggie Smith has loved playing soccer her entire time in school.

"She's loved playing and practicing soccer," said her coach at Trinity Christian Academy, Chris Baker. "Even when she's told to get off the field, she'll find a way to get another workout or six in before the end of the day."

Her love for the sport and her relentless desire to get better both helped her garner a scholarship offer from Arkansas State University to play collegiately.

She signed her paperwork on Wednesday, Nov. 13, to do that and become a Red Wolf.

Baker discussed how she dealt with the setback of an injured hamstring in her junior year and had to sit out at least 75 percent of the games that season.

"She still managed to score 12 goals that year," Baker said.

Maggie had a long list of people to thank.

"First I need to thank God for giving me the ability to play," Smith said. "And to my mom for all she's done for me and to dad for always traveling with me to tournaments."

She said she loves the campus in Jonesboro, Ark., and is looking forward to playing there.

This is the second collegiate signing in the six years Baker has been the soccer coach at TCA.

Maggie is the first one to sign with an NCAA Division I program.

Baker said she connected on 20 of the 50 shots she took this past year, her senior season, and he said that frequency is pretty good against the competition he schedules for the Lady Lions each season.

Brandon Shields, brandon@jacksonpost.news