Former Lobo signs with MLS-expansion FC Cincinnati

CINCINNATI, Ohio – FC Cincinnati has announced that they have signed defender and former University of New Mexico men’s soccer player Blake Smith to a contract ahead of the club’s debut 2019 season in Major League Soccer (MLS).
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This will be Smith’s second stint in the MLS as he spent parts of two seasons (2013-2015) with the Montreal Impact after being drafted eighth overall in the 2013 MLS SuperDraft. Prior to being the highest drafted Lobo in program history, Smith played at UNM from 2009-2012. In his four years as a Lobo, Smith would appear in 68 games and totaled 45 points with career goals and 19 career assists.
 
As a senior at UNM in 2012, Smith finished second in NCAA DI in total assists as he had 13. That year he was also lauded as a first team all-conference and all-region performer.
 
Joining FC Cincinnati for the 2019 campaign will put Smith in familiar territory as he spent the 2018 season with FC Cincinnati, who was then playing at the USL level. Smith initially signed with that iteration of FC Cincinnati on Feb. 5, 2018 and went on to make 30 appearances at left back with 28 of those being starts.
 
Smith scored a goal and had four assists for FC Cincinnati in 2018.