Seton Hall
Pirates in the Pros: Kelly Smith
Date: August 17, 2021By: Ryan Johnston
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As an international superstar who broke numerous records in her time at Seton Hall, Kelly Smith is most deserving of her spot in Seton Hall’s Athletics Hall of Fame. Smith’s storied career for the Pirates translated into the pros: she had a lengthy and successful career after her time in South Orange, N.J. Let’s rewind and take a look at her storied resume.
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Before Seton Hall, Smith was already a creative forward for Arsenal Women Football Club (formerly Arsenal Ladies). She scored a brace and assisted on a third in a win over Liverpool to help bring the Premier League title home to the Emirates. She also spent the year at West Herts College before transferring to Seton Hall.
The striker immediately made an impact upon coming to the Pirates, winning the Big East Offensive Player of the Year and Newcomer of the Year in her freshman campaign, the first player to ever win both awards in the same season. She carried this momentum into her next two years at the Hall, winning Big East Offensive Player of the Year both years and led the nation in scoring.
She earned Third Team All-American honors in her senior year and finished her career with 76 goals and 174 points in just 51 games in South Orange, N.J. After graduating, the Pirates retired her number six (the first non-basketball player to have a number retired in school history) and inducted her into the school’s Hall of Fame.
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Smith opted to stay in America following her collegiate career, finding her way to the USL’s W-League in the 1999-2000 season and playing with the New Jersey Lady Stallions. However, her tenure there was short after being drafted second overall by the Philadelphia Charge of the Women’s United Soccer Association.
She came out with a bang in her debut season with the Charge, earning a bid to the WUSA Global All-Star Team. However, injuries quickly took a toll on her budding career.
She tore her ACL in 2002, missing most of the season, and proceeded to injure the same knee going into the 2003 season, again missing most of the season. The WUSA ceased operations after the 2003 season, prompting Smith to return to the Lady Stallions. Her injury problems followed her there. Smith broke her leg in the 2003-2004 season, finishing the year with eight goals and six assists in just eight games.
After the 2004 season, Smith decided to return to Arsenal, and again, injuries hindered her to start out. She suffered a stress fracture in her foot to sideline her for most of the season yet again, but she made her return triumphantly at the end of the year, slotting a boomer from 30 meters out to give Arsenal Ladies the Premier League title once again.
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Her next two seasons were among the most productive of her career. She secured the FA Women’s Players’ Player of the Year for both 2006 and 2007. In 2006, Arsenal Women Football Club secured the Quadruple, winning all four major competitions that year, and followed up in 2007 with the Premier League and Community Shield. Smith finished her second stint in London with 100 goals in 112 appearances across all competitions for the Gunners.
Fast forward to 2009, and Smith went back across the pond for another stretch in the United States. This time, she called Boston her home after being drafted by the Boston Breakers in the newly formed WPS, second overall. In the first season of the league, Smith netted six goals and two assists in 15 games, earning a spot on the All-Star team. In her second season with the Breakers, Smith again made the All-Star squad after scoring 11 goals and five assists in 21 appearances. However, injuries again hampered her in her third and final year in the league, and she ended the year with just one goal and four assists in 10 appearances.
The WPS went on a hiatus before the 2012 season, prompting Smith to return to Arsenal one final time. She stayed at the club for five seasons before retiring from play in 2017.
@Kelly_Smith10 via Twitter
Smith’s international career was nearly as decorated as her club career. She made her debut 1995 at just 17-years-old and was going to go to the Women’s World Cup with England that year, but she was forced to sit out due to her GSCE exams. Smith ended up competing in the 2001, 2005, and 2009 UEFA Women’s Championships, finishing as runners-up in 2009. She also competed in the 2007 and 2011 Women’s World Cups, finishing in the quarterfinals both times, and in the 2012 London Olympics.
Her individual performance was also impressive on the national level. She finished third in the 2009 FIFA Women’s World Player of the Year and finished in the top five four times. She also retired as England’s all-time leading goal scorer, recording 46 goals throughout the course of her career. In 2008, Smith became a Member of the Order of the British Empire for her efforts.
Smith is one of Seton Hall’s most legendary athletes. Despite the numerous injuries and setbacks she faced throughout her career, she retired with an extraordinarily decorated resume. Smith will go down as not only the greatest Seton Hall women’s soccer player, but as one of the greatest women to ever play the beautiful game.
Ryan Johnston can be reached at ryan.johnston@student.shu.edu.
