North Carolina State University Athletics
PEELER: Sophomore Smith Ready to Step Up
9/10/2010 12:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer
Sept. 10, 2010
Wolfpack Opens ACC Play Vs. No. 3 UNC
Big Crowd Expected for NC State-UNC Game
Editor's note: The NC State-UNC game will be live-streamed on GoPack.com's All-Access for free here. Live stats will also available here.
BY TIM PEELER
RALEIGH, N.C. - Michael Smith had the luxury of easing into his role as a midfielder for the NC State men's soccer team.
But when the Wolfpack takes the field tonight against rival North Carolina, Smith will be expected to be a big part of his team's attack.
"I went from playing just a few minutes a game to being on the field the whole game," Smith said. "It's a lot different, because before I wasn't looked up to at all last year because I didn't play that much. Now, I'm sort of pushed into a leadership role. That's a good thing.
"I want to do whatever I can to make the team better. If I have to sit on the bench, like I did last year, I will. But I am needed to play the whole game, I'll do that too."
Last season, when the Wolfpack's starting lineup was filled with eight seniors, Smith played in 14 games, making three starts. He scored one goal and had one assist. The Cary native, who played at Apex High School, gained valuable experience, but entered this season hoping to have a bigger impact.
It didn't take long for him to accomplish that goal. In the Wolfpack's season opener, he scored two goals, including the game winner in the second overtime to beat Sacramento State, 4-3. After two games, he leads the team in scoring with four points.
It's a lot different than his debut season, when he spent most of his time pushing upperclassmen to keep them sharp.
"It was definitely hard not playing much," said Smith, a member of CASL Elite's three-time state champion and a two-time first-team all-conference selection at Apex High. "But Coach [George] Tarantini and Coach [Dan] Popik told me to be patient, that I would get my chance."
Now, Smith is letting that advice trickle down to the Wolfpack's 14 true freshmen, though some of them are playing more now than Smith did as a freshman.
"It's important that they understand that they have to grow up fast," Smith said. "I had a lot of older guys telling me what I could do better. The new guys have fewer guys who can do that for them.
"Hopefully, they can grow up quickly."
Nothing, of course, will help the newcomers grow up than a game against the nationally third-ranked Tar Heels, who also enter the contest with a 1-1 record.
"It's going to be a really great game," Smith said. "They lost this last weekend to Akron and we lost to [No. 20] Louisville. Both teams are going to be fighting to get back on a winning streak."
You may contact Tim Peeler at tim_peeler@ncsu.edu.
