NEW MEANING TO KICKING BACK RELAXED APPROACH WORKS FOR SMITH.

Byline: Gideon Rubin Staff Writer

MOORPARK - Patrick Smith doesn't stress. Not about soccer. Not really about anything, for that matter.

If his success in the sport is any indication, his laid-back approach has served him well.

A former Royal High standout who earlier this year led the Highlanders to a Marmonte League title and was the league's MVP, Smith is now excelling as a Moorpark College freshman, where his easy playing style has helped propel the Raiders to what so far has been one of their best seasons in more than a decade.

Smith leads the team and is third in the Western State Conference with 10 goals. Moorpark (11-1-2, 8-0-2), seeking its first conference title since 1990, led conference play with four regular season games remaining going into Friday's game against Santa Barbara. The Raiders were ranked fifth in a recent national poll.

``I try to be laid-back when I play,'' Smith said with a smile.

Smith's relaxed approach isn't altogether unique for his position.

He said he developed the style after watching video of several internationally prominent goal-scorers with a club coach who Smith credits with instilling a calming influence in him.

``If you look at the really great players you can see that they're really laid-back when they're playing,'' Smith said. ``The ones who aren't scoring are more high intensity. The ones that are more relaxed when they're playing can do whatever they want because they're not rushing.''

Moorpark coach Sean Roche said Smith's playing style and his propensity for scoring goals on headers reminds him of English soccer star Alan Shearer, one of Newcastle United's most prolific scorers.

But Smith's playing style initially clashed with Roche's coaching approach.

``In some senses my sessions are about high intensity for short periods of time,'' Roche said. ``That doesn't mix, does it?''

But Roche has learned to live with the results. Smith has combined with sophomore striker Oscar Sandoval, one of the state's leading scorers last season, for one of the most formidable front lines the Raiders have had in years.

``Some players really struggle when they don't score and then there are some that are much more broad minded and see the bigger picture,'' Roche said. ``Obviously, that's Patrick.''

And according to Roche, Smith has fit into that picture just fine.

``He has a good team ethic,'' Roche said. ``They want to give him the ball, so that's a good sign.''

And considering the results, what's not to like?

``It's easy to play center mid when he's up top,'' Moorpark teammate Kurtis Lindsey said. ``You just put the ball in a general area and Pat does the rest.''

Smith, who plans to major in history and wants to become a teacher, is hoping to parlay his Moorpark career into a Division I scholarship. He cited UC San Diego among the schools for which he'd like to play.

But he's not stressing about it.

``I pretty much do everything laid-back,'' Smith said. ``If I start stressing out, I don't do whatever I'm working on as well.

``Whenever I'm writing papers for school if I'm trying to rush it or cram it all in, I don't do it as good, so I just try to relax and start writing the paper. It just works out better that way.''

Gideon Rubin [phone]

gideon.rubin(at)dailynews.com

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Moorpark College standout Patrick Smith has scored 10 goals and has the Raiders atop the Western State Conference standings.

Andy Holzman/Staff Photographer