As the 2018 soccer season approaches, GoJacks.com spoke with six Jackrabbits who spent their summers playing in the Women's Premier Soccer League around the region. This six-part series will run for two weeks leading up to the team's report date of August 1. ---------- The reigning Summit League Goalkeeper of the Year has just about finished up her second year in the capital city of Iowa playing for the Des Moines Menace of the Women's Premier Soccer League (WPSL) and is loving every moment of it. "The team is great," Smither said. "It's so much fun being back for a second season and seeing familiar faces and also meeting some new ones as well." One of the great things to take away from the WPSL is that different coaches have different styles of coaching and ways of approaching certain things. Smither gets the opportunity to play with a competitive team as well as potentially learning new things to use next year at SDSU. "Different coaching styles and style of play is one of the things I have noticed to be one of the biggest differences," Smither said. "It's great being able to bring these back with to SDSU and expand my skill set even more." Smither loved going to practice every day as she learned something new or found a new approach to life between the pipes. She says that's her favorite part of playing in the WPSL, that every day you are learning something new and staying sharp during the offseason. With nearly three-fourths of the team made up of Division I players from colleges across the nation, and a roster full of players aged 18-29, there are a number of different experiences and talent. "It's a blast," Smither said. "There is literally people from all over the country and all different ages. They bring so many different styles, skill sets and their own unique flair and culture to the team every day." One thing Smither said she never does is focusing on one area. The WPSL has been a great opportunity to learn from other goalkeepers and coaches about more than one area to work on for the future. "I don't focus on one area usually," Smither said. "It makes you sound like you are perfect in all the other areas. I'm a total sponge when it comes to a new opportunity to learn new things. The reason I do that is because I know I am nowhere near perfection and am always trying to improves in all areas. This summer has definitely helped with that." Like Smither, there are a number of players back from last year's Menace team, though blending new teammates (such as fellow Jackrabbit Hannah Evans) into the fold has been fun. "A team is like a family, so I haven't been able to see some of the girls since last summer," Smither said. "So it was an amazing feeling to reconnect with them and play on the field again. But above all playing with Hannah was the best. We already have so much chemistry from being teammates in Brookings. We know how each other will play and where they are going to be." Smither also remarked about her enjoyment of playing this summer was to be able to spend it living with Evans and playing the game they both loved. The Menace concluded their season with a 2-1 victory over the Kansas City Athletics, wrapping up a five-match unbeaten streak that saw Smither post a 4-0 shutout victory against the Kansas City Courage. The Jackrabbits return to campus for fall camp Aug. 1 and will open the season with an exhibition at Minnesota on Aug. 11. Single-match tickets and a limited number of season ticket packages are on sale now through the Jackrabbit Ticket Office. Tickets can be purchased in person, online at JackrabbitTickets.com or over the phone by calling (605) 688-5422. Part three of the series features Eleanor Dick and will be available Monday. Read part one of the series on Bianca Madonia here.
-GoJacks.com-