Jason Smith's Introduction to the Chaos of USL League One
The Chattanooga Red Wolves goalkeeper had a wild first two weeks as a professional
Just two matches into his professional career, Chattanooga Red Wolves goaltender Jason Smith has experienced just how chaotic USL League One can be.
The 21 year old started his first match as a rostered professional, a regular season fixture at FC Naples. In that match, he did not concede any open play goals, only giving up a penalty kick at the hands of Andrés Ferrín. For the effort of helping his team to a 1-1 road draw, the league awarded him a spot on the team of the week.
His second professional appearance was a US Open Cup first round match against amateur side New Jersey Alliance. This time, Head Coach Scott MacKenzie opted to start veteran keeper Ricardo Jérez.
Dealing with some injuries, the team had to travel with 15 players, leaving Smith on the bench with just three outfield members of the squad. Even facing an amateur team, it still presented a huge risk.
Smith found his way into the match in an unexpected manner, but he was up for the challenge.
From Park City to Chattanooga
Signed in the offseason to replace the departing T.J. Bush, Smith was excited at the opportunity to play under MacKenize again.
He was no stranger to the Red Wolves organization or its head coach, having played for the club’s affiliated Park City Red Wolves USL League Two team during the first two years of his NCAA career at Utah Valley University. At the time, MacKenzie served as Park City’s manager.
After that, Smith transferred to Syracuse University for the 2023 and 2024 seasons. While Syracuse presented an opportunity to gain experience in NCAA’s top conference for men’s soccer, it was also a notoriously competitive environment. After making eight appearances his junior year, he was limited to just two in his final year at Syracuse. After that disappointment, he was looking to get his rhythm back.
With his familiarity and now four years of NCAA experience, Smith was among Chattanooga’s first batch of signing announcements this preseason. He was part of long-term pipeline of talent developed by the organization and mentioned at the time of MacKenzie’s permanent promotion to the professional side. It also included 2025 signee Greyson Mercer and 2024-2025 academy call up Gharett Morris.
“Jason was excellent for us at the USL 2 level,” said MacKenzie, “at a very young age for a football player he has high level traits in the way he carries himself, the way he prepares and the work he puts in.”
Smith added: “I’ve always enjoyed playing for Scott and I really liked the project that he presented here in Chattanooga.”
He believes he plays his best soccer for MacKenzie, and appreciates the culture instilled with the teams of which they’ve both been a part.
“Personalties matter too and we knew he would be a great fit culturally,” MacKenzie told us, “Jason also gives us a great option in terms of being able to play with both feet.”
With no other keepers signed besides the 39 year old Jérez, it became clear that Smith might take on a big role with Chattanooga. And he got that chance in the opening match at Naples.
The Magic and Chaos of the Open Cup
After the draw at Naples, the squad moved on to the U.S. Open Cup. Chattanooga’s first round match was at NJ Alliance, and showed early signs that the lack of bench depth might be a problem.
Midfielder Gharett Morris received an early red card, and then his fellow midfielder Omar Hernandez had to be subbed out due to an injury. The hosts took a 1-0 lead into the half on a Marlon Preciado goal in first half stoppage time.
Chattanooga’s Matt Bentley equalized for the Red Wolves on a penalty kick in the 65th minute. But as the second half dragged on with a 1-1 draw, the squad on the pitch was stretched to the limit.
However, late in the match, it appeared they might sneak through. In the 84th minute, Bentley scored a second goal, giving Chattanooga its first lead of the night.
Asked if he thought there was a possibility he might have to sub in, Smith told us he didn’t think it would happen, but “the thought crossed my mind with how the game started.”
“But I thought I wouldn’t be needed after our second goal in the late stage of the game,” he said, but offered to go in if needed.
Then came the stoppage time stunner: NJ Alliance’s Joel Quist scored an equalizer. The match headed to added extra time.
At this point, Smith started seriously considering the possibility that he’d have to sub in as an outfield player. Indeed, in the 114th minute, MacKenzie made the decision to pull defender Eric Kinzner and use his final remaining sub: Smith.
MacKenzie told us Smith was “definitely not our first choice to throw our goalkeeper on up top, but credit to him, he did well, won some headers and put it about.”
MacKenzie added that the substitution, as bizarre as it seems, was tactical, and Kinzner was not injured.
“When we got into the second period of extra time, we did intend to put [Smith] on for a penalty,” he explained, saying Smith “is an extremely good striker of the ball.”
It was Smith’s first time playing in the field since his freshman year of high school, he told us. For the next seven or so minutes, he played towards the front as a forward as his side attempted to avoid penalty kicks. However, extra time would end in a 2-2 draw.
After NJ Alliance’s Quist made his attempt, Chattanooga’s Bentley countered. Alliance missed, then Chattanooga’s Ualefi made his. Alliance missed again, and to everyone’s surprise, up stepped Smith.
Facing NJ Alliance keeper Yamil Macias, he sent the ball into the net with ease, a right-footed shot to his left, the keeper’s right. Macias dove the opposite direction, and suddenly Chattanooga was on the cusp of victory with a 3-1 penalty kick lead.
“I had more mental preparation for the penalty kick shootout than I did for my short venture in the field,” he said.
Thanks to Smith, Chattanooga only needed one more to win, and despite conceding the next Alliance attempt, league veteran Owen Green sent the match winner home. The Red Wolves would be advancing to the next round.
“Gonna be telling this story for a while,” Smith posted on Instagram after the match.
Up Next
Chattanooga had this weekend off, using the time to recharge and regroup before another busy week. On Friday, March 28th, they’ll travel to face Charlotte Independence, and then it’s on to round two of the U.S. Open Cup on Wednesday, April 2nd.
That will be another compelling match, because it will be the first time Chattanooga Red Wolves will face Chattanooga FC. Going into the details as to why this is the case is an entirely different story in itself, but let’s just say it won’t exactly be a friendly match.
As far as Smith’s time off, we asked if he’d found any good places to eat around Chattanooga yet. He says he’s more of an eat at home type of guy, but will treat himself to Chipotle or the Costco food court.
And if he wasn’t playing soccer? Coaching or sports journalism sound appealing.
One thing is for sure: he already has a good story to tell.
Great interview! "Team manager" to "U.S. Open Cup hero"?? Smith deserves his own ESPN video (*)! Btw, what is not apparent in the screengrab above, is that Smith had to borrow an ill-fitting jersey in order to play in the outfield, a jersey that almost then burst at the seams as he was running about!
(*) much like "Aura", the McNeese basketball manager who has gone viral, signed NIL deals into the six figures!
https://youtu.be/vmXm5jMebmg