-- Story provided by Calvin University Athletics --
Recent Calvin graduate Mason Smith has received a prestigious post-season honor.
Smith has been named a D3soccer.com Third Team All-American. It marks the first time that Smith has received All-America accolades.
A native of Flint, Michigan, Smith (Flint Powers Catholic HS) battled through injuries this past fall to produce another standout campaign, leading the Knights to MIAA regular season and MIAA Tournament titles and another trip to the NCAA III Tournament.
A midfielder, Smith scored four goals and notched a team-leading nine assists this past fall, despite missing five of Calvin's 22 games due to injury.
The shifty box-to-box midfielder came up big down the final stretch of the season, scoring a goal in a 3-0 rivalry win over Hope in the MIAA Tournament Championship game and following with a goal and two assists in a first round NCAA III Tournament win over Carnegie Mellon.
A five-year member of the Calvin men's soccer program, Smith was named to the All-MIAA First Team for a fourth straight season this fall and was named to the United Soccer Coaches All-Region VIII Second Team.
At Calvin, Smith played as an outside defensive back on 2018 and 2019 teams that reached the NCAA III Final Four and later moved into an attacking midfield role for the Knights over his final three years. He was a part of five MIAA championship teams, four NCAA III Tournament squads, two NCAA III Final Four teams and one team that finished as national runners-up (2018).
Over the course of his Calvin career, he tallied 19 goals and 22 assists. At Calvin, he was a four-time First Team All-MIAA selection.
"We are really excited to see Mason recognized like this," said Calvin head men's soccer coach Ryan Souders. "It was a tough fall for him, physically, but he pushed through and had an exceptional campaign to cap a remarkable career here at Calvin. We are really proud of him and glad others recognized what he meant to our team."
Smith graduated from Calvin this past December. In February, he signed a professional contract to play with Launceston City FC of the Tasmania National Premier League. He was recently named Man of the Match for his play in a win over Riverside Olympic FC.
He is the third individual from Calvin's 2022 team to receive All-America honors as Oliver Akintade and Chris Schau were named United Soccer Coaches Division III All-Americans in December.
