By Katharine Cruise

Dreams really do come true.Just ask University of Louisville junior women’s soccer player Shannon Smyth.

While many college students are grueling over summer jobs, attending classes or laying out poolside, Smyth is having her dream of being an international soccer player come true.

Smyth planned a summer vacation to Ireland so she could visit her family and tour around the country. While that alone sounds like an exciting summer vacation, her simple family trip to Ireland doesn’t end there. Smyth, a forward from Divine Saviour High School in Milwaukee, Wisc., became involved with the Football Association of Ireland.

Smyth acquired dual citizenship, because her father is from Ireland, opening up the possibility to play for both the Ireland and American national teams.

All that was left for Smyth to do was get noticed. Although making the right connections to be looked at by an international scout wasn’t easy, with the help of some family members Smyth managed to do just that.

After setting up a trial match with the Irish national team, Smyth scored three goals. Her scoring onslaught caught the eye of Noel King, the head coach of the Irish women’s team. Directly after the game, King invited Smyth to play at the World University Games in Bangkok, Thailand, which took place Aug. 4-20.

“I’m lucky to be supported by my coaches and my team,” Smyth said. “Without them pushing me these past two years at Louisville I wouldn’t be whereI am.”

This will be the 14th World University Games. The games only happen every two years and feature over 200 countries in 15 sports.

Smyth has been spending the last few weeks in Bangkok, practicing, competing and living with some of the best international soccer athletes in the dorms at Thammasat University.

“It really just has a feel of like being at the Olympics,” Smyth said. “All the athletes are staying at the dorms, there’s live entertainment every night and markets to shop in. In general, it’s a great atmosphere with all the athletes together to get to know each other and the Thai culture.”

Smyth’s coach was thrilled with what has happened to Smyth this summer.

“We are very happy for Shannon that she has been chosen to participate in the World University Games for Ireland. Playing for Ireland is a goal of hers and playing in this tournament will only elevate her chances of attaining that goal,” said Cardinal head coach Karen Ferguson to CSTV’s main Louisville Web site.

Smyth’s teammates are also excited about her success.

“We can’t wait to have her back here to make an impact in Louisville, but we are all pulling for her and we hope she gets a chance to get her first international cap against Romania on Aug. 27,” said junior defender and Smyth’s roommate Jessica Mello.

With the whirlwind summer Smyth has had, it’s no surprise that she is actually looking forward to coming back to Louisville. Expect to see Smyth back in action with the Louisville women’s soccer team this fall.

“I can’t wait to get back to Louisville,” Smyth said. “We’re coming off our best season in school history and are ready to make new waves in the Big East. We have a strong senior class and I’ve become very close with them all so I want to send them off well.”

The Cardinal women’s soccer team will play their first exhibition game tonight against the University of Tennessee.