Gator soccer adds grad transfer Kelsey Smith for the 2026 season. The striker led Maryland in goals and points in 2025.
Gators Soccer Signs Kelsey Smith for 2026 Season
Wednesday, February 25, 2026 | Soccer
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Florida soccer signs striker Kelsey Smith for the Gators fall 2026 roster.
Smith joins the Gators as a grad transfer after leading Maryland in goals (6) and points (14) in 2025. All of her eight career goals came in the last two seasons. She earns her bachelor's degree in public health practice this spring and enrolls at Florida this summer.
"We are so excited to welcome Kelsey to Gator Nation! She is a player we have been following since her youth club days when she was Gatorade Player of the Year in Maryland!!," Florida Head Coach Nick Zimmerman said. "She will join an exciting attacking group who is eager to score goals and create chances! She loves to go 1v1 and her competitiveness is evident every time she steps on the field! "
"I'm super excited to join this group of girls and staff in my next chapter," Smith said. "I can't wait to get started!!"
Smith is the eighth transfer, joining Tatum Borman, Charlotte Grim, Hannah Jibril, Zoe Main, Ella Petersen, Adia Symmonds and Kyra Taylor. Florida signed four freshmen in November, with Addy Dean and Courtney Hogan also signing in December.
Kelsey Smith
IG: kelsey_smith_
At Maryland (2022 - RS, 2023, 2024, 2025):
High School/Club:
Smith's Career Statistics (at Maryland)
Smith joins the Gators as a grad transfer after leading Maryland in goals (6) and points (14) in 2025. All of her eight career goals came in the last two seasons. She earns her bachelor's degree in public health practice this spring and enrolls at Florida this summer.
"We are so excited to welcome Kelsey to Gator Nation! She is a player we have been following since her youth club days when she was Gatorade Player of the Year in Maryland!!," Florida Head Coach Nick Zimmerman said. "She will join an exciting attacking group who is eager to score goals and create chances! She loves to go 1v1 and her competitiveness is evident every time she steps on the field! "
"I'm super excited to join this group of girls and staff in my next chapter," Smith said. "I can't wait to get started!!"
Smith is the eighth transfer, joining Tatum Borman, Charlotte Grim, Hannah Jibril, Zoe Main, Ella Petersen, Adia Symmonds and Kyra Taylor. Florida signed four freshmen in November, with Addy Dean and Courtney Hogan also signing in December.
Kelsey Smith
IG: kelsey_smith_
- Position: Forward
- High School: McDonogh School (Coach: Harry Canellakis and Mary Beth Todd)
- Club: Maryland United
- Previous School: Maryland
- Hometown: Elkridge, Md.
At Maryland (2022 - RS, 2023, 2024, 2025):
- Led Terrapins in 2025 goals (6) and points (14). Team captain, starting every match, averaging 75 minutes per match. First multi-goal match (2) came versus Saint Francis.
- Shared second in points (6) off two goals and two assists in 2024. Appeared in all 19 matches, starting 14
- Returned to field in 2023 after sidelined in 2022 with injury. Appeared in every match with 13 starts
- 2023, 2024 and 2025 College Sports Communicators Academic All-District
High School/Club:
- 2021 United Soccer Coaches Fall High School All-American after scoring 19 goals and 41 points
- 2022 Gatorade Player of the Year for Maryland
- 2021 Baltimore Sun All-Metro Player of the Year
- First-team selection for 2021 All-Metro and All-Conference
- First-team selection for 2021 and 2019 Maryland Association of Coaches of Soccer (MACS) All-State
- McDonogh School won 2018, 2019 and 2021 Interscholastic Athletic Association of Maryland (IAAM) A Conference titles (team didn't compete in 2020 due to pandemic)
- Named to 2019 ECNL Girls National Selection Game – South Carolina
Smith's Career Statistics (at Maryland)
| Season | GP-GS | Min | Shots | G (GWG) | A | Pts |
| 2022 | RS | |||||
| 2023 | 18-4 | 589 | 11 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2024 | 19-14 | 877 | 17 | 2 (1) | 2 | 6 |
| 2025 | 18-18 | 1,351 | 32 | 6 (1) | 2 | 14 |
| Totals | 55-36 | 2,817 | 60 | 8 (2) | 4 | 20 |
Florida Soccer | the work doesn't stop 😤
Saturday, February 07
Florida Soccer | Addy Hess Goes ALL OUT for the BIG Moment 😤
Sunday, January 25
Florida Soccer | Katie Johnston Earns First "Chain" of 2026 Spring Season ⛓
Wednesday, January 21
Florida Soccer | Gators are BACK for the Spring Season ⚽️
Sunday, January 18
