Around Iredell Sports

2008 Jun-11

Smith rewrites record book in first year at MHS

Mooresville’s Courtney Smith was a revelation on the soccer field as a freshman. Smith broke school records with 42 goals and 22 assists to help lead the Blue Devils to a 19-4 record.

By Brian Meadows
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When ninth-grader Courtney Smith arrived to Mooresville this year, she was somewhat of a mystery to veteran Blue Devils soccer coach Steve Stith.

Smith played for Charlotte United Football Club, not for her middle school team, so Stith didn’t have a scouting report.

“I never knew what kind of player she was. I had never seen her play,” Stith said. “She’s kind of a quiet girl. She wasn’t real demonstrative early in tryouts.”

Smith must have been biding her time, because she made a thunderous statement once she slipped on the Mooresville uniform. The forward’s offensive ingenuity helped rewrite the school record book.

Smith’s 42 goals shattered the previous mark held by Maggie Hart, who netted 25 in 2006. Smith complemented her goal-scoring ability with 22 assists, also a Blue Devils record. Coupled together, she’s easily the top single-season point producer in school history.

“I was shocked when I found out about it,” Smith said of her record-breaking season. “But I’m very thankful.”

Few in North Carolina found the back of the net more often in their rookie season than Smith, the R&L county girls soccer player of the year.

Smith’s 42 goals ranks fourth all-time in state history among freshmen, according to records kept by the N.C. High School Athletic Association. Only Lenoir Hibriten’s Whitney Berry (44, 2002), Hope Mills South View’s Carolyn Lindsay (48, 2000) and Wilson Fike’s Sarah Winslow (72, 2003) scored more in their first seasons.

“She was a huge surprise,” Stith said. “Out of all those goals, I can only think of a couple that she really ripped. She tucked them away, and she’s just a true finisher. There’s not a ton of flash. Real
subtle dribble move and then places it. And it worked.”

It worked so well, in fact, Smith might have challenged Winslow’s record, but, with sportsmanship against weaker opponents in mind, Stith ruled that out quickly.

Stith frowned upon other schools allowing players “to score eight or nine goals in a game,” saying “that’s just not right.”

“I told Courtney, ‘You could set some of those (state) records, but you’re not going to be able to because I’m not going to let you,’ ” Stith said. “She was fine with that.”

The Blue Devils finished the season 19-4 after a second-round playoff loss to Marvin Ridge. Smith scored in 19 of their 23 games.

With one exception, Smith never tickled the twine more than three times in any game. She had four tallies against South Rowan “because before I could yank her out — I had subs up — she scored,” Stith said.

In four combined contests against Lake Norman and Statesville, the two other strongest teams in the county, Smith amassed four goals and a couple of assists.

“Those are the games I like to perform my best,” said Smith, who was responsible for scoring one-third of the Blue Devils’ 126 goals.

Smith gave Mooresville an emotional boost in a key showdown late in the season with eventual state semifinalist Lake Norman. Mooresville still had a chance to factor into the North Piedmont Conference title April 16, when the Blue Devils traveled across town to face their rival.

Smith assisted the first goal of the game. She split two defenders with a perfectly slotted pass from midfield in the 28th minute. Emmie Tyson swooped in and buried the shot, sending Blue Devils fans into a frenzy.

Mooresville lost 3-2, but “I loved going up 1-0 on Lake Norman,” Smith said. “It was one of the best feelings I had this season.”

Imagine the feeling Stith and company must have knowing this young talent’s career just started.

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Smith rewrites record book in first year at MHS

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