Connor Smith earned yet another postseason accolade Thursday when he was named 2014-15 Gatorade Maryland Boys Soccer Player of the Year.
Smith, who scored 23 goals and had 21 assists for No. 2 McDonogh last season, was named the High School National Player of the Year by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America in December.
"What makes Connor so dangerous is that he is top quality, meaning that he finishes the chances he gets," Mount Saint Joseph soccer coach Mike St. Martin said in a statement. "He has a great work rate and makes the other players around him better."
Smith, the All-Metro Player of the Year, is a finalist for the Gatorade National Boys Soccer Player of the Year award, which will be announced in May.
A McDonogh soccer player has won the award for three straight years and in six of the past nine; George Campbell won in 2013 and 2014, Marquez Fernandez won in 2010 and 2009 and Chris Agorsor won in 2008. Gilman's Andrew Harris (2012) and Archbishop Curley's B.J. Quigley (2007) are other recent local winners.
Smith led the Eagles to the Maryland Interscholastic Athletic Assocation A Conference championship game and within one win of a perfect season. McDonogh lost the title to Loyola Blakefield, 2-0.
The midfielder finished high school with 46 goals and 31 assists and is signed to play at Maryland next season.
"Connor is not only one of the most naturally-talented players I've been around, but also one of the hardest working and best leaders," McDonogh coach Brandon Quaranta said in December. "Even with all his personal accomplishments, he is the consummate team player and cares only about the team. He will undoubtedly be recognized as one of the all-time great players in the program's history."
McDonogh junior forward Bridgette Andrzejewski, the All-Metro Player of the Year in girls soccer, was named the Gatorade Maryland Girls Soccer Player of the Year last week.