By Buster Laing

Special to The FN

Former Bishop Michael Eldon soccer star Arianna Smith and the St. Andrews Knights Women's Soccer lost to Spelman College (Atlanta, GA) Jaguars at home in their season opener 2-1 on Saturday, September 3, 2011 in Laurinburg, North Carolina.

According to the schools' website: The battle started in the first half. Both teams fought for possession of the ball, leading to back and forth play.

An early goal from the Jaguars by Breahna Gillespie started the competition.

Late in the first, the Knights tied it up with a goal by sophomore Hannah Wilson (Salisbury, NC) at 40:27.

The Jaguars quickly responded with a goal four minutes later by Kyra Lewis, taking the score to 2-1.

The Knights were unable to place the ball in the net.

Several close attempts were made by the Knights, but the Jaguars fought hard to clear the ball and protect the goal. Spelman totalled eight saves.

Smith attempted three shots in a collegiate debut as a defender and midfielder.

A solid Knights' defense gave forth a great effort to keep the ball out of the box, shutting down the Jaguars offense in the second half. The St. Andrews offense was busy too, as they managed to boot 22 shots on goal. Spelman took a total of 14 shots at SAPC's freshman keeper Hannah Platt (Burgaw, NC), who nabbed five saves.

Smith led The BMES Warriors to a second place finish in last year's Grand Bahama Secondary School of Athletics Association senior girl's championships losing to Sunland Baptist Academy Eagles 1-0 on a goal by Courtney Moss. Smith led the league in scoring with 13 goals in four games.

She is 17 years old and graduated from BMES with Special Credit. She has 7/9 BGCSE passes (6Bs, 1C, 2Ds)

More about Arianna: ...Favorite food: Sushi and Pizza...Favorite movie: "Deep Blue Sea"...Favorite music: R&B, Hip-Hop...Favorite sports teams: Miami Heat...Favorite athletes: Mario Chalmers of the Miami Heat...Hero: Her grandmother... Smith is studying accounting and hopes to become a Certified Public Accountant and wants to own and operate the first Bahamian five Diamond Resort Chain.

Smith receives $19,250 annually in scholarships to attend St. Andrew's. She will be playing both Soccer and Lacrosse and also made the Cheerleading team

Update: St.Andrew is currently 1-2 on the season. The Knights finished last season at 3-16.

St. Andrews is an undergraduate liberal arts college in Laurinburg, North Carolina providing a nationally recognized interdisciplinary curriculum to a diverse student body on a residential campus and to adult learners through satellites and online.

Opportunities include study abroad programs, award-winning pipe band, championship equestrian teams, NCAA Division-II athletics, and academics ranging from forensics, equestrian, business, game art design or the sciences to creative writing, education and psychology.