DENVER – The University of Denver men’s soccer team has added Oregon State sophomore transfer Graham Smith (Highlands Ranch, Colo.) to its 2016 roster, head coach Jamie Franks announced on Monday. A 38-game starting defensive midfielder for the Beavers, Smith will have two years of eligibility remaining in a Pioneer uniform.

“We are excited to add Graham Smith to the family,” Franks said. “He already knows many of the players on the team and believes the student-athlete experience here at the University of Denver will help him prepare for life after college. Graham welcomes the challenge of the high expectations and accountability associated with our program.  He is an extremely competitive kid who will relish the opportunity to bring a National Championship to his hometown city.” 

The Colorado native has started in all 38 matches he has played in an orange and black uniform, recording three career assists, all in his freshman year. A Real Colorado Academy product, Smith played 3,353 out of a possible 3,567 minutes in his Oregon State career. Smith assisted the game-winner that knocked Denver out of the 2014 NCAA Tournament in Corvallis.

“I loved Graham coming out of high school and am not surprised he has found success in the collegiate game over the past two years,” Franks said. “During the recruiting process, we were most attracted to Graham’s character.  He is an outstanding student and teammate that brings a physical dimension to the game with his ability to cover ground that allows him to be dominate in tackles and in the air.  We will ask Graham to not only do the dirty work, but also connect the game for us.  He possesses a great passing range and we will look for him to get on the ball and facilitate the game.”

Denver graduates just two in goalkeeper Dan Jackson (Chapel Hill, N.C.) and defensive midfielder Jordan Schweitzer (Everett, Wash.) in 2016. The Pioneers finished the regular season as the only unbeaten team in Division I, heading into the NCAA Tournament with a 15-0-3 record. The Pioneers dropped a 1-0 extra time result to SMU in the second round of the postseason tournament, the farthest Denver has advanced in its Division I history.

“With the addition of Graham, we now will have 11 Coloradans on the roster next year,” Franks said. “We have watched many of these kids grow up since they were in high school and look forward to continuing to develop them into young men.  We feel very confident in this group’s ability and look forward to getting back to work in preparation for next season.”  

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