Laney Smith '25 Named United Soccer Coaches Association 2024 All-American
Jan
17
2025
Your 2024 United Soccer Coaches Association All-American from Mercy High School…
Laney Smith ’25.
Last month, Smith added the only accolade missing from her crowded resume: All-American.
“I’m really honored and grateful to be named an All-American and I couldn’t have done it without the support of my team and family,” Smith said.
The distinction puts Smith in elite company.
In the history of Mercy soccer, she is just the second athlete ever to be named an All-American, joining former goalie and teammate Melina Ford ‘23, who received the honor twice.
“I am so happy for Laney,” Mercy Soccer coach Marcus Harley said. “This is a well-deserved honor for super nice young lady, who is team first and very unselfish on the field.”
For those that have watched Smith the last four years, the honor is a fitting conclusion to a career that will never be replicated.
Over her four years, Smith guided Mercy to three state championships, including the first as a ninth grader. But most maybe impressive, she kept getting better, ending her career as the all-time goals leader (76) and single season assist leader (30) in program history.
She was the SCC Final Most Outstanding Player three times, All State twice, All New England twice and the state final MVP as a sophomore.
However, the best of all?
She was the catalyst for the best run in Mercy Soccer history. She was part of two outright titles, a co-championship, three league championships, a record win streak and the program’s rise to the No. 1 ranking in CT. And each year, she improved her game and grew as a player, saving her best for senior year.
Faced with the brightest spotlight this fall, she took over games as a playmaker, recording 30 assists.
Throughout her career, the finishing was always there, but this fall with a focus on the biggest prize, a Class LL title, she found her teammates time and time again, and helped Mercy become a complete team.
After rewriting the record books and leading the program to a new golden era, we couldn’t think of a better way to cap off one of the best careers we will ever see. Last weekend, Smith also traveled to Chicago to be honored in front of coaches, adminstrators, and players from across the country.
For the dynamic forward, the ceremony arrived at exactly the right time. Smith recently committed to play Division I soccer at the University of North Carolina-Greensboro and the trip to Chicago provided her family and Mercy coach Marcus Harley an opportunity to celebrate a historic career. And she got the chance to enjoy the moment with some familiar company. Smith was joined in Chicago by Xavier’s All-American recipient Diego Canellas, who was also accompanied by his Xavier coach Brian Fitzgerald.