Born and raised into a soccer enthusiast family, it’s not surprising that Shawnee Smith inherited a love for the game.

“My father grew up in Germany where everyone watches Bundesliga (German top tier soccer),” Smith said.

Growing up in Lakewood, Smith has been out of the country only twice; both times to Vancouver, BC. Where in the world would she love to visit if she had the chance? Where else: “I would love to travel to Germany,” Smith said.

Her parents started to coach her younger brother’s soccer team and her older brother was playing soccer in college. It was only natural for her to start playing soccer herself. Playing against her brothers in the backyard, Smith became a natural at defense as her brother was a striker.

“He was one of the people who would go up and score the goals all the time. Whenever we would practice I would get used to defending against him,” Smith said. “It engrained itself into my playing style.”

Smith is also an avid fan of the Sounders, the Seattle-based Major League Soccer team. Ever since the Sounders joined the MLS in 2007, Smith has been going to games and collecting paraphernalia. With the love of the Sounders, it is only natural for her to hate the Portland Timbers.

Even if you offered her free tickets, “I would not go to a Timbers game unless they are playing against the Sounders. We hate the Timbers,” Smith said.

Her favorite player from the Sounders is Brad Evans. Evans is a midfielder for the team since 2009.

“My family members are season ticket holders of the Sounders. We only have two of them, but it works out that I can go to about 50 percent of the games,” Smith said.

Even though her family loves the Sounders, there is a split with who they like in the Barclays Premier League in Europe.

“I am a Chelsea fan while my brother is a Liverpool fan. He is older than me so he liked it before I became a Chelsea fan,” Smith said.

When not watching soccer, Smith enjoys taking dance classes and singing everywhere. She reads whatever books she can get her hands on and hangs out with her friends most the time. The Lakes High School graduate is in her final quarter at Pierce before transferring to a four-year university. Even though Smith is an English major, she does not wish to become a teacher; instead she would like to publish fiction books.