Soccer players in the twilight of their careers often give up the game to go into a field like, say, accounting. Kyle Smith did just the opposite.
He had a steady job at the University of Cincinnati. He had weekends off in his hometown. He had stability.
Then Smith attended Louisville City FC’s open tryouts, starting on a path that earned him a professional contract.
“Some people were saying I shouldn’t do it — that I should build my resume for accounting,” Smith said. “Other people were like, ‘This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. You can always be an accountant. You can’t always be a soccer player.’
“I think I definitely made the right decision for myself.”
Voted the USL’s Midseason Rookie of the Year, Smith took coach James O’Connor up on his offer and has made the most of a shift from the midfield in his college days to right back. Now a defender, he has logged more minutes than any other player on LouCity’s roster and paces the team in assists.
He’ll be a key piece in Sunday’s USL Eastern Conference Final, when Louisville looks for its first win over a New York Red Bulls II team against which it hasn’t earned a point in four previous meetings. The clubs kick off at 6:30 p.m. at Red Bull Arena, with the winner advancing on to the USL’s championship game.
You’ll find Smith dashing up and down the right side. He’s tasked with pushing up to attack, but not so much that it risks his ability to defend at the other end. In all, Smith estimates he walks, jogs and sprints about seven miles per game.
“My biggest adjustment is talking to the people in front of me and making sure everyone’s organizing,” he said. “The first line of defense is Chandler (Hoffman), Cameron (Lancaster) and Kadeem (Dacres, the right winger). If they can’t get past them, my job’s a lot easier.”
Smith had an idea what he was getting into this year when he signed with LouCity after trying out for the second straight year. In the fall of 2015, he attended his first professional game, LouCity’s playoff victory over the Charleston Battery, and witnessed then-right back Bryan Burke — who also led the club in assists — manning the near side of the field.
A product of Lexington’s Transylvania University, Smith also tried out for first-year club FC Cincinnati, which plays its home games at his old workplace, on the University of Cincinnati’s campus. But he caught on first in Louisville.
“I really liked the atmosphere and playing style,” Smith said. “It was an awesome experience being in the stands. Being on the field, though, I like it better, because I know what I’m capable of. It’s rewarding.”
Along with Smith, a group of defenders including Tarek Morad, Paco Craig, Sean Reynolds, Ben Newnam and Enrique Montano has locked down lately. Greg Ranjitsingh has allowed only 0.83 goals per game this season, and LouCity posted clean sheets in both its opening-round playoff games.
Smith, his family and friends have gone all in on LouCity to the point where the defender considers a group of eight or 10 there to see him at Slugger Field a small number. Then Smith returns to his apartment and dog, Cooper, a Boston Terrier he named after his team’s largest supporters group.
LouCity has set its open tryout date ahead of the 2017 season for Dec. 17, a week after the NCAA’s College Cup. Perhaps O’Connor will find the next Smith, who isn’t sure of his career path.
“I don’t know where I’ll be two or three years from now, let alone five,” said the 24-year-old, who could go back into accounting, “or maybe be a coach. Who knows? There’s going to be more opportunities in soccer. It’s a growing sport.”
