SLU women's soccer senior takes on the Questions

St. Louis University senior Jacqueline "Jacqui" Smith is a hometown girl, who had four great seasons in front of her native city, and was an extremely successful member of the Billiken women's soccer team.

One of only two Billikens to start all 21 games, Smith was named to the Atlantic 10 Commissioner's Honor Roll (minimum 3.5 GPA) for both semesters and was the Billikens' Defensive Player of the Year in 2009-10. This season Smith also helped SLU to a 4-9-6 overall record, including a 3-5-1 mark in the A-10 Conference.

She currently boasts a 3.74 GPA and has a Bachelors in Nursing. Smith attended St. Joseph's Academy in St. Louis, where she was a two-time All-Metro selection and a three-time All-Conference player. She helped guide the her high school team's defense to 17 shutouts and a 24-1-1 overall record as a senior, and earned Missouri Defender of the Year honors that season as well.

Recently, Smith took part in the CatholicSportsNet.com "20 Questions" segment, and her answers are below.

1. How did you choose the college you attend?
I visited SLU my junior year of high school and I loved it.  The campus was perfect and everyone was very friendly.  After seeing the amazing soccer field and meeting the coaches and teammates, I knew this was where I wanted to spend my next four (or five) years.

2. What is your favorite part of college athletics?
My favorite part of college athletics is being able to compete at such a high level and being able to travel all over the country. 

3. How do you balance academics and your sport?
It can be difficult at times, but I find myself making a lot of ‘to do’ lists.  Also, having good rapport with my teachers helped me balance soccer and nursing school.

4. What is the hardest part about being a student athlete? 
The hardest part about being a student athlete would be missing a lot of school for away games and finding the extra time to make up the work.

5. What do you do for fun when you aren’t in class or at practice?
I like hanging out with my family and friends. 

6. What is the best characteristic that you bring to your teammates?
On the field, I think my best characteristic I bring to my teammates is composure.  Off the field, my best characteristics are accountability and passion for the game.

7. What does your team do as a pre game ritual?
Before a game we all meet in the locker room and listen to music and then walk out onto the field together.

8. What music do you listen to before a game?
I listen to anything but rap before a game.  I enjoy listening to songs like ‘Black Betty’ and ‘Let it Rock‘.  My teammates find the music I listen to humorous because sometimes you can find me listening to soft, relaxing music before a game.

9. What role does your faith play throughout school, games, and practice?
Faith is an important part of my everyday life. My faith helps simplify my life and helps me appreciate what I have.  As a team, faith is important.  We pray before every game and at half time and this helps brings us all closer together especially during a tough competition.

10. Favorite pro team to watch?
St. Louis Cardinals

11. What is your coach’s best quality?
Our coach is aware that our lives are not completely revolved around soccer.  He wants us to be involved with other things and wants us to not only succeed on the field but also in the classroom.

12. Why is a team captain(s) so important to the team?
A team captain inspires, motivates, and raises team confidence.  A captain is a leader on and off the field and helps lead the team especially at difficult times.

13. How does your team handle defeat? What do you say to your team after a tough loss? 
Defeat is always hard to handle no matter what sport you play.   I feel as if my team handled defeat by leaning on each other for support.  We were always a team and we stood by each other no matter what the scoreboard showed.    After a tough loss, learning from our mistakes was important.   After a loss, it was important to come out to the next game confident and ready to play.

14. What is your favorite pre game snack?
I usually eat a bagel with peanut butter.

15. Favorite movie quote?
“Norman….Hello?”  -City Slickers

16. What advice do you have for young student athletes as they decide where to go to college? 

Be sure to not only tour the campus but also meet the team and the coaches to see if it is a good fit.  It is important to see how the team gets along and if there is good chemistry between all the players and the coaches. 

17. Best smart phone app? 
Actually, I do not even know all the applications on a smart phone.  My phone is as simple as it gets!

18. How do you think your involvement in college sports and academics will benefit you when you begin to look for a job?
I think being a student athlete has helped me develop many characteristics that are important when looking for a job.  It has helped me learn more about the importance of teamwork and dependability.  Learning how to manage my time effectively will also benefit me in the future when I begin to look for a job.

19. What does it mean to play athletics for a Catholic college?
I am able to combine aspects of my life that are important to me:  faith, soccer, and academics.

20. What is your proudest athletic achievement?
It’s difficult to choose one but in general I am proud that I had the opportunity to play Division I college soccer in my hometown (St. Louis).