Cara Smith was the backbone of the Laurentian University
women's soccer program for the last four years. The Lasalle
Secondary graduate was a team captain and made the OUA First
All-Star team three times and the Second team once. In 2007,
Smith represented Canada at the FISU Games in Thailand, helping
Team Canada place 10th.
Smith spearheaded the highly successful Kick for the Cure
event, which has raised more than $5,000 for breast cancer
research. Smith has graduated from the radiation therapy
program and shared her experiences from the last four years
with Northern Life reporter Scott Haddow.
SH: How did the LU experience change you?
CS: The experience didn't change me but instead shaped my
future into what it has become. It allowed me to understand and
decide what I wanted to do with my life in both academics and
athletics, as it encouraged and supported achievement in both
areas.
SH: What did you learn about yourself over the years at
LU?
CS: That I can stay up all night studying (laughs). I've
learned that it's important to be motivated and have a strong
work ethic. That can get you very far, and people will respect
you for that. Also, that helping others in any way, shape, or
form, is extremely important and worthwhile, and opens your
eyes to a whole new, different world.
SH: What made it all special and worthwhile?
CS: The entire experience. Every practice , every game, and
every friendship made it all worthwhile. I think that's what's
really important in the end.
SH: What was your highlight of your LU career and
why?
CS: When we made it to the Final Four. We were on such a high
throughout playoffs going in. We had never been there before so
we were going in and had nothing to lose. The entire team was
caught up in such a soccer fever nothing could bring any of us
down. Personally, it would have to be representing Canada at
the FISU World University Games last summer in Bangkok,
Thailand.  The atmosphere, the level of play, the country,
everything was incredible and I wish I could go back.
SH: What will you miss the most?
CS: Playing in general. I know that I will go back in the fall
to watch games and will be dying in the bleachers to go back on
the field. I love playing soccer and playing soccer for LU was
a gift.
SH: Why is the soccer program good for local players to
try out for?
CS: LU has a lot to offer student-athletes. The great thing
about the soccer program is that you truly are a student first,
and an athlete second. They encourage and support your
academics just as much as your athletics... but they make us
work hard of the field. Once it's soccer time, that's exactly
it, it's soccer time.
SH: Being part of the LU pride and tradition, what did
it mean to you in your life?
CS: To me it just meant representing not only myself, but
everyone standing behind me supporting me throughout my years
at LU. I wanted to continue what Laurentian had already begun,
and push it further. Keep expanding and to continue to try to
reach our goals.
SH: Overall, what was the toughest break you had to
endure in your time at LU and how did it affect you?
CS: Fortunately for me, I never had a season-ending or
career-ending injury or what-not to overcome. But like every
student-athlete, you go through your ups and downs with your
academics.  Some semesters you have tougher classes,
tougher profs, more work, and other things that can bring you
down, but in the end, once it got to soccer time, I was free to
think of something else for an hour or two. You can't let
things like that bring you down, so you just buckle down, work
through them, and eventually get through them (and graduate
(laughs).
