Team USA's Katrina Dowd: More Than "Trix"
|
|
Katrina Dowd has a bright future ahead with the Team USA, but has her sights set on winning another NCAA title for now. © John Strohsacker/LaxPhotos.com |
With a nickname like Trix, you know Katrina Dowd is something special. All you need to do is look at the miracle goal she flipped in during last year’s NCAA semifinals to force overtime against Penn – a game that her Northwestern team eventually won on the way to its fifth straight national championship.
Dowd rides a skateboard to practice, wears a white headband influenced by tennis great Rafael Nadal, has a cadre of stick tricks and isn’t afraid to say that she likes to bring a little swagger to her game.
“She’s very creative, she’s really fun to watch,” said Northwestern head coach Kelly Amonte Hiller. “She’s the type of player a fan comes to see a game for.”
But don’t get blinded by the flash. Dowd is all about production and helping her team to a sixth straight championship. The Wildcats play North Carolina on Friday night at 7 p.m. (Eastern) in the semifinal round of the 2010 NCAA Women’s Lacrosse Championship at Towson University (all games will be aired live on CBS College Sports). It’s a chance to avenge their only loss of the season. UNC downed Northwestern 18-16 on April 18, ending a 41-game winning streak for the Wildcats.
Dowd had seven goals in that loss and she’s put up whopping numbers all season long. She ranks second nationally with 106 points (74 goals, 32 assists) heading into the championship weekend. Beyond the raw statistics, Dowd has moved into a new role as even more of a leader. Following the example of those that came before her is a pretty high bar.
“It’s something you take with a lot of pride because you know the national championships we’ve won before have been because we’ve had great leaders leading us in the tough games and every day in practice,” said Dowd. “It’s something every day I’m working on, doing something new to lead this team.”
This past summer, Dowd had a different kind of experience. Due to injury concerns, she was called in the final days before the World Cup to fly to Prague in the Czech Republic in case one of the Team USA players was unable to play. She joined an essentially brand new team, and though she didn’t get to play, it’s an experience she won’t soon forget.
“That was an unbelievable experience to go over to Prague and practice with them and be in the locker room with them,” said Dowd. “For them to take me in and think of me as a teammate was unbelievably exciting.”
Team USA, of course, defeated Australia 8-7 to win the World Cup and Dowd figures to play a bigger role with the U.S. team in the years to come. She had four goals and an assist in Team USA’s 17-8 victory over Duke in the Champion Challenge this past January. But for now, her sights are set on a championship closer to home.
Given that Northwestern has gone a staggering 84-3 over her career, it wouldn’t be surprising if the team was already picturing what this year’s championship rings will look like. But all Dowd has to do is remember last year’s remarkable goal that allowed the championship streak to continue. And Northwestern actually enters as the underdog with Maryland carrying the No. 1 seed. In other words, the stage is set for a great weekend of lacrosse.
