2022 Men's Soccer Roster
Smits, Eric
Jersey Number 11
Eric Smits
- Height:
- 5-8
- Weight:
- 135
- Position:
- M
- Class:
- Senior
- Hometown:
- Wassenaar, Netherlands
- High School:
- Breck School (Minn.)
Bio
2022: Appeared in 13 games, making two starts ... Tallied a goal at Rutgers (9/17) ... Logged a season-high 49 minutes at NIU, notching an assist (10/12).
2021: Appeared in 14 games, starting one as a junior ... Slotted home the winning-goal, the first goal of his career, against Loyola Chicago (9/3) ... Earned his first collegiate start against Xavier (9/12).
2020: Appeared in eight games as a sophomore ... Fired his first career shot against Ohio State (3/7) ... Played his first collegiate minutes in the season opener against Michigan (2/19).
2019: Did not make an appearance this season.
Career Highs:
Minutes.................................53, vs. Xavier (9/12/21)
Goals..........................1, vs. Loyola Chicago (9/3/21)
Assists.................................................................N/A
Shots.............................1 (4x), vs. Penn St. (9/17/21)
Shots on Goal.............1, vs. Loyola Chicago (9/3/21)
High School: Played varsity soccer since 8th grade and was a captain since junior year… Minnesota High School soccer state runner-up 2015….Minnesota High School soccer all-state junior and senior year… All-conference honors since sophomore year.
Club: Won the Minnesota State Cup in 2013 and 2018 with Minneapolis United… Minneapolis United captain since 2014…. Minnesota ODP team 2014-2018….ODP Region 2 Team 2014-2018….ODP Interregional All-Star 2016...Guest played with Maplebrook Soccer Club to lead them to Dallas Cup U-18 Championship.
Personal: Parents are Virginia Perez and Marcel Smits…. Has one younger brother, Ralph, who is a freshman in high school, and one older brother, Conrad, who attends the University of San Diego…. Lived in the Netherlands until he was nine, then moved to Hinsdale, Illinois, and then finally moved to Edina, Minnesota in 7th grade….Chose Northwestern after considering Harvard and Creighton.
2021: Appeared in 14 games, starting one as a junior ... Slotted home the winning-goal, the first goal of his career, against Loyola Chicago (9/3) ... Earned his first collegiate start against Xavier (9/12).
2020: Appeared in eight games as a sophomore ... Fired his first career shot against Ohio State (3/7) ... Played his first collegiate minutes in the season opener against Michigan (2/19).
2019: Did not make an appearance this season.
Career Highs:
Minutes.................................53, vs. Xavier (9/12/21)
Goals..........................1, vs. Loyola Chicago (9/3/21)
Assists.................................................................N/A
Shots.............................1 (4x), vs. Penn St. (9/17/21)
Shots on Goal.............1, vs. Loyola Chicago (9/3/21)
High School: Played varsity soccer since 8th grade and was a captain since junior year… Minnesota High School soccer state runner-up 2015….Minnesota High School soccer all-state junior and senior year… All-conference honors since sophomore year.
Club: Won the Minnesota State Cup in 2013 and 2018 with Minneapolis United… Minneapolis United captain since 2014…. Minnesota ODP team 2014-2018….ODP Region 2 Team 2014-2018….ODP Interregional All-Star 2016...Guest played with Maplebrook Soccer Club to lead them to Dallas Cup U-18 Championship.
Personal: Parents are Virginia Perez and Marcel Smits…. Has one younger brother, Ralph, who is a freshman in high school, and one older brother, Conrad, who attends the University of San Diego…. Lived in the Netherlands until he was nine, then moved to Hinsdale, Illinois, and then finally moved to Edina, Minnesota in 7th grade….Chose Northwestern after considering Harvard and Creighton.
Men's Soccer - ‘Cats Strike Late At Xavier, 1-0 (9/6/2025)
Sunday, September 07
Men's Soccer - Suchecki, O'Reilly Lift 'Cats Over Air Force, 2-1 (8/24/25)
Sunday, August 24
Men's Soccer - Riesz's Brace Pushes 'Cats Past Eastern Illinois in 2025 Opener, 2-0 (8/21/25)
Friday, August 22
Do they know ball? 🤔 🐐
Tuesday, August 05
