Boston College Athletics
Q & A With Hayley Dowd
August 13, 2016 | Women's Soccer
Senior forward Hayley Dowd returns for her final season for the Eagles. A dynamic player who has a great motor and nose for the goal, Dowd was named to the All-ACC second team last year as she finished with 12 goals, two assist for 26 points. She now has 73 career points, good for 11th on the all-time point list. She is also sixth on the all-time list for goals scored with 32. A native of Peagody, Dowd scored two goals in the Eagles 3-2 win over UConn on Friday in an exhibition.
Here are Dowd's thoughts on the team and the 2016 season.
As you enter your senior season, how will your role on the team be different than in past years?
HD - This is my first year as a captain and I look forward to the challenge. We have a solid group that trained together all spring and a talented group of freshman. It is my job, as one the leaders of this team to make sure that the integration goes smoothly.
What did you do differently this summer to prepare for the upcoming season?
HD - I stayed at BC for my third summer in a row to take a class. I also worked out with a former track coach of mine, Fernando Braz in Peabody. His workouts are innovative and very challenging. I learned to push myself in a different way this summer.
With a large incoming class, what have you done to introduce the BC ways to the younger kids?
HD - It has definitely been a challenge and something we have not seen here at BC for a while. I've just tried to be very open and approachable. I want them to feel comfortable asking me any question they have about BC. I want them to know that I will always be a resource. We have also have had a couple of team dinners, which has helped immensely in getting to know everyone better.
Talk about the mindset of the team right now as you prepare for the season opener vs Providence?
HD - Although it is early, this team has a great mindset. It is an extremely energetic and instinctive group and they have been a lot of fun to play with. We are excited to get some games in, starting with the scrimmage against UConn (W, 3-2 on Friday) and then to Providence. Something that has stuck with the returning players' minds is that we lost to Providence last year, in heartbreaking fashion. This is something that we will bring up as motivation in the next week, for we do not want it to happen again.
Has the team set any goals, if so what are some of them?
HD - We have set some goals, many of them having to do with making the freshmen feel welcome. We are striving to be an extremely cohesive unit, in hopes for success on and off the field. We have set goals to be playing into December, much later than we have the last two seasons.
Talk about the mindset of the team right now as you prepare for the season opener vs Providence?
HD - This team has a great mindset. The returners are coming off of a great spring season and are extremely confident in our abilities. The newcomers are fresh and lively and are add a different dimension and depth to our team. The training sessions have been great and we are itching to play in a competitive game.
What are some of personal goals?
HD - My personal goal for this season is to be a leader that will be remembered in this program. I also want to do anything I can to help this team win games. I want this last season to be the senior's best season yet; one that we will remember for years to come.
Do you change the way you play once ACC competition begins?
HD - No, I would not say that the way we play changes. The games mean more, but every win is a win. We cannot afford to take our foot off the gas for any game and we must take one game at a time. No matter who we are up against, our work ethic cannot change.
Can you talk about one of your highlights over the last three seasons?
HD - The highlight of my three years here was making the Elite Eight my freshmen year. That team was the best team I have ever played on. Winning those two games in Nebraska in the sub-zero temperature was unforgettable. Hopefully this can be out done this year.
Why did you choose Boston College? -
HD - I chose Boston College because of the great academics and its proximity to my hometown. I am a homebody and love the city of Boston.
If you didn't play soccer, what other sport at Boston College would you play?
HD - If I did not play soccer, I would love to play basketball. Basketball was and still is one of my favorite sports to watch and play. I would love to start an intramural team.
What is one of your favorite places to hang out on campus?
HD - My favorite place on campus to hang out is the Lower Dining Hall. We all go there after training sessions and end up spending hours hanging out and talking there.
Upon graduation in May, will you continue to play, go to graduate school or start the job search?
HD - I would love to give professional soccer a try because it has always been a dream of mine. If that does not go as planned, I would like to get into coaching. Coaching is something that I have been thinking about lately.
Here are Dowd's thoughts on the team and the 2016 season.
As you enter your senior season, how will your role on the team be different than in past years?
HD - This is my first year as a captain and I look forward to the challenge. We have a solid group that trained together all spring and a talented group of freshman. It is my job, as one the leaders of this team to make sure that the integration goes smoothly.
What did you do differently this summer to prepare for the upcoming season?
HD - I stayed at BC for my third summer in a row to take a class. I also worked out with a former track coach of mine, Fernando Braz in Peabody. His workouts are innovative and very challenging. I learned to push myself in a different way this summer.
With a large incoming class, what have you done to introduce the BC ways to the younger kids?
HD - It has definitely been a challenge and something we have not seen here at BC for a while. I've just tried to be very open and approachable. I want them to feel comfortable asking me any question they have about BC. I want them to know that I will always be a resource. We have also have had a couple of team dinners, which has helped immensely in getting to know everyone better.
Talk about the mindset of the team right now as you prepare for the season opener vs Providence?
HD - Although it is early, this team has a great mindset. It is an extremely energetic and instinctive group and they have been a lot of fun to play with. We are excited to get some games in, starting with the scrimmage against UConn (W, 3-2 on Friday) and then to Providence. Something that has stuck with the returning players' minds is that we lost to Providence last year, in heartbreaking fashion. This is something that we will bring up as motivation in the next week, for we do not want it to happen again.
Has the team set any goals, if so what are some of them?
HD - We have set some goals, many of them having to do with making the freshmen feel welcome. We are striving to be an extremely cohesive unit, in hopes for success on and off the field. We have set goals to be playing into December, much later than we have the last two seasons.
Talk about the mindset of the team right now as you prepare for the season opener vs Providence?
HD - This team has a great mindset. The returners are coming off of a great spring season and are extremely confident in our abilities. The newcomers are fresh and lively and are add a different dimension and depth to our team. The training sessions have been great and we are itching to play in a competitive game.
What are some of personal goals?
HD - My personal goal for this season is to be a leader that will be remembered in this program. I also want to do anything I can to help this team win games. I want this last season to be the senior's best season yet; one that we will remember for years to come.
Do you change the way you play once ACC competition begins?
HD - No, I would not say that the way we play changes. The games mean more, but every win is a win. We cannot afford to take our foot off the gas for any game and we must take one game at a time. No matter who we are up against, our work ethic cannot change.
Can you talk about one of your highlights over the last three seasons?
HD - The highlight of my three years here was making the Elite Eight my freshmen year. That team was the best team I have ever played on. Winning those two games in Nebraska in the sub-zero temperature was unforgettable. Hopefully this can be out done this year.
Why did you choose Boston College? -
HD - I chose Boston College because of the great academics and its proximity to my hometown. I am a homebody and love the city of Boston.
If you didn't play soccer, what other sport at Boston College would you play?
HD - If I did not play soccer, I would love to play basketball. Basketball was and still is one of my favorite sports to watch and play. I would love to start an intramural team.
What is one of your favorite places to hang out on campus?
HD - My favorite place on campus to hang out is the Lower Dining Hall. We all go there after training sessions and end up spending hours hanging out and talking there.
Upon graduation in May, will you continue to play, go to graduate school or start the job search?
HD - I would love to give professional soccer a try because it has always been a dream of mine. If that does not go as planned, I would like to get into coaching. Coaching is something that I have been thinking about lately.
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