Makena Smith

Scenes from Soccer Media day on July 23, 2025.

Photo by: Tommy Martino/University of Montana

Photo by: Ryan Brennecke

Year:
Junior
Position:
D
Hometown:
Brighton, Mich.
Previous School:
Brighton HS / Purdue / Miami (Ohio)

2025 (junior season):

Second-team All-Big Sky Conference
Big Sky Conference All-Tournament Team
Voted team's Newcomer of the Year
Played in 19 of 20 matches, made 17 starts
Key member of back line that helped Montana to 12 shutouts, a 0.64 goals-against average
Totaled 1,483 minutes (78.1/g)
Took two shots on the season, both on goal
Scored game-winning goal in 5-0 home win over MSU Billings
Played 110 minutes in Big Sky tournament matches, 90 at Washington in NCAA tournament
Eleven times played every minute of a match

Career Highs (entering the 2026 season)
Goals: 1 (MSU Billings, 9.7.25)
Assists: n/a
Points: 2 (MSU Billings, 9.7.25)
Shots: 1, two times
Shots on goal: 1, two times
Minutes: 110, two times

Prior to UM: Spent one season at Purdue, one at Miami (Ohio) … Played in four matches for the Boilermakers in 2023, totaled 53 minutes ... Played in five matches for the Redhawks in 2024, made three starts ... Took two shots, putting both on goal in 2-2 draw at Tennessee Tech ... Played 90 minutes against Eastern Kentucky, Tennessee Tech

Prep: A 2023 graduate of Brighton High … Played club soccer for Michigan Jaguars … Selected to participate in 2022 Girls Academy Mid-America Talent ID Event … A 2020 ODP international team invitee

Personal: The daughter of Steve and Becky Smith … Has a twin brother, Cru … Parents both played soccer at Michigan State … Mom started 72 career matches for the Spartans, totaled 18 goals, 11 assists, won a Big Ten championship in 1994 and was second-team All-Big Ten as a senior in 1996 … Brother plays in the North American Hockey League