Hall of Fame
Julia Meszaros Smith was a standout field hockey player and four-year starter for Shippensburg University in the mid-1970s. She was co-captain of the team her junior and senior seasons and played a key role in helping the Lady Raiders fashion an undefeated season her senior year.
In 1974 Smith helped Shippensburg compile an 8-3 record. Though only a freshman she was selected to play for the Central Penn II All-Star team at the Mid-East Tournament in Sewickly, Pennsylvania.
The following season, Shippensburg dropped to 4-5-2, but in 1976, the Lady Raiders set new university record for wins in a season with nine. The team ended with a 9-2-3 record and began what would become a 27 game undefeated streak.
Smith was Most Valuable Player of the team in 1977. The Lady Raiders went 11-0-2 and extended the undefeated streak to 21 games, breaking the old record of 20 in a row set in 1970. Shippensburg would win its first six games in 1978 before losing.
Smith, who grew up in Marietta in Lancaster County, came to Shippensburg in the fall of 1974 after a stellar record at Donegal High School. After graduating from Shipensburg she became an elementary school teacher in that school district.
During Smith’s teaching career she served as the district’s Odyssey of the Mind coach. In that capacity she was guiding youngsters in a problem solving competition with teams from other Pennsylvania schools. Her son and daughter’s teams reached beyond the regional level and to the state level of competition. In addition she also served as assistant field hockey coach at Elizabethtown College.
