BENTON – Former Lady Marshal and Bethel University stand-out goalkeeper, Savana Smothers, is passionate about soccer. Her many years of soccer as a player has ignited her passion, not only on a national level, but an international level.
Savana has attended numerous United States Women’s National Team (USWNT) games and is inspired by the women on the team, on and off the field, through good and bad. Her passion and contagious smile has caught the eye of many players on the USWNT and inspired them as well.
Savana and Jessie Brewer, also a Marshall County graduate, made the pilgrimage to Winnipeg, Canada for the FIFA World Cup, traveling for 24 hours through six states, then spending three hours in line trying to cross the Canadian border due to the mass of USA soccer fans headed to the World Cup.
The 2013 Marshall County graduate has followed the USWNT for several years and has formed a special connection with several US as well as international players, especially USWNT keeper Hope Solo who Savana has met four times.
“The first time I met Hope was in 2009 in St. Louis when she played for Athletica in the Pro League”. Savana said. “The second time was in Nashville in 2013 when she came over after the game and signed my poster.”
Savana met Solo a third time in Chicago when she came over to her and gave her the cleats right off her feet.
“She took them off as she was walking over to me, handed them to me and walked back to the locker room”, Savana said. Going on to say, “she didn’t sign anyone else’s stuff, so that was neat.” Solo also told Savana that she loved her poster.
Her fourth meeting with Solo came in St. Louis and the two took a picture together.
“She said she remembered me from Chicago and she tried to give me her gloves but all I wanted a picture”, Savana said.
Solo spent time talking to Savana that day and spoke of the preparations they were making in camp for the World Cup in Canada.
“I looked up to her a lot on the field while playing and I think watching the World Cup and games in general is great for younger players and the best way they can learn to “read” the game”, Savana said. “The thinking side of the game, not the technical side, that’s strictly athletic ability.”
At the World Cup in Canada, Savana and Jessie saw seven games in five days, beginning with the USA 3-1 win over Australia in their opening game as part of the Group D “group of death” which included along with the US and Australia, Sweden and Nigeria.
“Never in my life would I have imagined being, not just in the stands, but in the fourth row, watching the US Women’s National Team battle and go for the title of World Champion”, Savana said. “I couldn’t stop smiling.”
In a sell-out crowd of 32,716, the Winnipeg stadium was full of USA supporters clad in red, white and blue, chanting and waving the flag in what Savana said, “felt like a home match”.
In their second game, Savana and Jessie witnessed the US team and Sweden battle to a 0-0 draw.
They went on to beat Nigeria 1-0 in the following game to advance to the knock-out round of 16 and will play Colombia tonight (Monday).
Savana and Jessie spent time between games touring Winnipeg and one highlight for Savana was the chance to watch friends and former Bethel teammates play a game while there.
The USWNT has developed a #SheBelieves campaign centered around girls and their goals, passions and dreams and after Savana submitted hers about her mission work in Nicaragua, US defender Julie Johnston made a video about Savana following where her passion takes her.
Upon her return to the US, Savana had a couple of days to prepare for that other passion, her second mission trip to Nicaragua.
She has stayed in touch with those she met on her first trip to Nicaragua and returned there this week.
Savana is a junior Public Relations major and Photography minor student at Murray State and plans to continue her mission work in Nicaragua after she graduates.
Of her trip to the FIFA World Cup, Savana said, “It’s a trip I will never forget as long as I live.”
