Haverling girls soccer star named Gatorade' New York Player of the Year

Keegan Smith still sounded surprised a small town girl like herself was named Gatorade New York Girls Soccer Player of the Year while on the phone Friday afternoon.

A state champion at Haverling, Smith was back home from the University of Arkansas when she stumbled upon the news. Her college teammate, Lily Boydstun, was named Gatorade Player of the Year in Colorado and shared it on Instagram. Smith wondered who Gatorade's New York State winner was, and couldn't believe it when she saw her name that morning.

Smith played center midfield at Haverling but has transitioned back to her natural position as a goalkeeper at Arkansas.

"It didn't hit me at first because I was so in shock," Smith said. "I'm from a small town. This doesn't usually happen. This can't be real. Out of everybody in New York, I felt so honored to be chosen. Especially to top my high school career off," Smith said.

Gatorade Player of the Year: Keegan Smith

Haverling coach Braedyn Northrup never thought Smith would win Gatorade Player of the Year when she signed her soccer star up for the prestigious award. Smith was the first to find out, and Facetimed Northrup after breaking the news to her parents.

"Keegan is just so exceptional, I couldn't not sign her up for this award. She's a one-of-a-kind athlete," Northrup said.

Smith is a two-time All-GreaterRochester first teamer and United Soccer Coaches All-American. She registered 89 goals and 59 assists during her career in Haverling's center midfield.

Smith's expertise, though, is at goalkeeper. She'll be Arkansas' starting keeper as a freshman this fall. In 2020, Smith was called to join US Soccer's 14U camp, and has been part of the national team's pool of players for years as a keeper. She uses Haverling's fall season as a break from goal but plays between the pipes outside of school.

"My goalkeeping side is going to be the side I'm going to put the most work into, even though I love being a field player, and I love the freedom and creativity that comes with it. Being a goalkeeper takes a lot of mental toughness. ... I loved having the fall to take a break from that," Smith said.

Keegan Smith's state championship goal

Northrup called Smith a "lethal" player on set pieces who can "absolutely" change a game. Smith did so in November's New York State Public High School Athletic Association Class B championship game, scoring the game-winning goal in the first two minutes of a 1-0 win over Section XI's Babylon. Smith headed over 10 goals as a senior, using her 6-foot frame and leaping ability to her advantage.

"She went out with a state championship and can hold her head very high with everything that she's accomplished," Northrup said.

In the NYS final, Smith flew over her mark and a box full of defenders for her goal on the receiving end of Ella Yartym's corner kick. Smith scored six of Haverling's seven goals during the Rams' run through the region final and state final four, and assisted on the other. She finished the season with 28 goals and 14 assists. In 2022, Haverling lost the state final to Section I's Irvington 2-1 in overtime during a snowstorm.

"I saw her serve it in and said, 'Yeah, I'm going to get to this one.' ... I just used all the power I could to get it in. It was crazy. I love ending off on that goal," Smith said.

Haverling's Triesta Sprague, a junior sweeper in 2023, began playing soccer against Smith as a 3-year-old before teaming up with her in the third grade during indoor season, and through Haverling's Bath Blast travel team. Sprague called Smith a "powerhouse" on the field. Smith's region final performance against Lewiston-Porter was the best game Sprague seen her play.

"I'm so proud of her. She deserves it, for everything she's done for Haverling. It was very cool to hear about it," Sprague said.

What's next for Keegan Smith?

Smith hoped for a Section V finals appearance as an eighth grader. She graduated in December with four titles, two state finals appearances, an NYS championship, and is now a Division I Southeastern Conference athlete.

Smith enrolled at Arkansas in the winter and quickly earned the starting keeper position during the spring season. Smith was home in June but will return to Arkansas for summer workouts soon. She said the move from Section V to the SEC was a big change.

Smith thanked her parents, coaches and the community's support for being named Gatorade New York Player of the Year.

"Honestly, I couldn't be more thankful for all of this, and all of the support I've had over the years at Haverling. It's just the perfect way to end it all," Smith said.

— Marquel Slaughter is a journalist for the Democrat and Chronicle, specializing in high school sports. He has been a reporter for 15 years. Follow him @MarquelSports and X or on Instagram. You can contact him at mslaughter1@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: Keegan Smith named Gatorade New York Girls Soccer Player of the Year