PENNSYLVANIA SOCCER STAR LOOKS TO IMPRESS AT NPSL SHOWCASE
Hershey FC is lucky to have a player of Josh Smith’s caliber. He’s gotten the job done at every level and is now ready to take the next step, that of becoming a professional player. He will have the opportunity to show off his skills this weekend at the 2017 NPSL Player Showcase. Everything points to the fact that Smith will turn some heads playing against the league’s best in Carson, California. It is an exciting time for Smith.
“I have wanted to be a pro soccer player ever since the age of five. It is an awesome feeling knowing that I am so close to fulfilling my childhood dream and I am looking forward to the opportunity in which I can display my talents in front of a variety of professional coaches.”
Smith was a true stalwart for Hershey FC in 2016, a leader on and off the field. He was a constant presence in their lineup, making a difference in each and every game. He quickly became known for his strong work ethic, mental toughness, and excellent decision-making.
Hershey FC General Manager Adam Clay, who served as the team’s head coach in 2016, has high praise for the Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania native.
“Josh has been a rock for us defensively the past two seasons. He has great character and makes players around him better. His athleticism and poise on the field are hard to match. We are very proud Josh will be the first Hershey FC representative at the NPSL showcase.”
Smith’s physicality and ability to play from box to box were equally impressive. The fact that he can be effective as both a center midfielder and center back is an added bonus. His athleticism is so impressive that he was Mid-Penn First Team All-Star in both soccer and basketball at Mechanicsburg Area HS.
Bloomsburg University has also benefitted from Smith’s play and it is easy to see that he is one of the program’s all-time greats. His list of awards is literally a laundry list that includes CoSIDA Academic All-America First Team (2015 and 2016), CoSIDA Academic All-District First Team (2015 and 2016), PSAC Fall Top 10 (2015), and PSAC Champion Scholar-Athlete (2015) honors. He played in an amazing 75 matches for the Huskies with 71 of them coming as starts.
Simply put, Smith has more than earned the opportunity to impress professional coaches, scouts, and agents at the NPSL Player Showcase. According to Smith, it is the perfect place to prove himself.
“When I first found out that I was selected for the showcase I was ecstatic. It was an amazing feeling to know that I have the opportunity to make my lifelong dream come true. It is not very often that individuals are able to chase after their childhood dream and I feel lucky to be given the opportunity to do so.”
Smith is very appreciative for this opportunity, knowing that both his club and league have been so instrumental in his development.
“The NPSL has helped me showcase my abilities beyond the college level. The NPSL has also helped me to develop my skills even further than I have during my four years at the college level. The NPSL has helped me to develop my speed of play, my decision-making, and my ability to stay composed while under higher levels of pressure.”
Hopefully everything that he has learned will lead him to a professional contract, but the first step is to impress at this weekend’s showcase. It is a massive opportunity, one that Smith has been preparing for his entire career.
