Ryan Smith selected NSCAA/adidas Scholar All-America and All-East Region for Men's Soccer

Ryan Smith

By Steven Wright

ADA - Senior Ryan Smith has been selected National Soccer Coaches Association of America/adidas First Team Scholar All-East Region and Second Team Scholar All-America.

Smith has now received three postseason awards on the basis of academics, as he was selected First Team Academic All-Ohio Athletic Conference.

In addition to excelling off the field, Smith has earned many awards for his performance on the soccer field as well.

In 2008, Smith was named OAC Defender of the Year for the second time. He was the conference's Co-Defender of the Year as a sophomore in 2006.

Also as a sophomore, Smith was named First Team D3Kicks.com All-Region and Second Team NSCAA All-Region to go along with his OAC accolades.

After his junior campaign, Smith again earned Second Team NSCAA All-Region and First Team All-OAC honors. He again performed at a high level in the classroom, earning First Team Academic All-Ohio, NSCAA/adidas First Team Scholar All-East Region, CoSIDA Second Team Academic All-District and First Team Academic All-OAC.

Smith scored one goal and recorded 12 assists for his career, including three in his final season.

He was also a huge part of the Ohio Northern men's soccer team success in 2008, anchoring a defense that led the Polar Bears to NCAA Division III Elite Eight. This was the farthest any ONU men's soccer team had made it in the NCAA Tournament.

Smith was also a part of the first team in school history to reach the NCAA Tournament when the Polar Bears won the OAC Tournament Championship in 2006.