The University of Mississippi Athletics
Signing of Amaris Smith Announced
6/21/1999 | Soccer
Feb. 24, 1998
OXFORD, Miss. -- Amaris Smith, a 5-foot-6 forward from Spring, Texas, has signed a national letter of intent to play soccer at Ole Miss, as announced by Lady Rebel head coach Steve Holeman on Monday. A transfer from Texas Tech, Smith is enrolled at Ole Miss this semester and will be eligible to play for the Lady Rebels in the fall. Smith will have two years of eligibility at Ole Miss.
"Amaris is a very dangerous player," said Holeman. "She is a hard worker and is very quick on the ball. Amaris is an unselfish player who sets up scoring opportunities for her teammates. She will bring a lot to our offensive attack because our opponents are going to have to be concerned with her and will have to defend her with their top defensive player. Amaris will see playing time at forward or in the midfield."
In her two seasons at Texas Tech, Smith played in 37 games and started 35. She scored 20 goals and recorded six assists (46 points) in her two years as a Lady Raider. As a freshman in 1996, Smith was second-leading scorer on the team with 27 points (11 goals, 5 assists). She also scored her first career hat trick her freshman season, netting three goals in a 5-1 win over Southwest Missouri State. Last season, Smith again was the squad's second-leading scorer with 19 points (9 goals, 1 assist).
Prior to her time at Texas Tech, Smith was an All-District and All-City player at Klein High School. Smith also played soccer for the Challenge club team in Spring, Texas, from 1993-95. Her Challenge squad won the Miami Junior Orange Bowl title in 1995 and 1996 and the Plano tournament championship in 1994 and 1995. A member of the South Texas Olympic Development Program (ODP) squad from 1993-95, Smith was selected to the state ODP team all three years.
Last season, the Lady Rebels posted an 11-9 overall record and a 4-4 mark in Southeastern Conference play. Ole Miss advanced to the SEC Tournament for the first time in the program's three-year history last fall.
Ole Miss begins its spring season play on Saturday, Feb. 28 when it hosts Mississippi State and Memphis in round-robin action. The Lady Rebels will play Memphis at 10:00 a.m., with Mississippi State to meet Memphis at 1:00 p.m. The final game will have Ole Miss playing Mississippi State at 4:00 p.m. All three games will be played at the Ole Miss Soccer Stadium located on Hathorn Road.
