Marquette University Athletics
Senior Spotlight: Erin Dowdle
4/15/2020 10:07:00 AM | Women's Lacrosse
The walk-on turned all-conference defender looks back at her MU career
MILWAUKEE – As a former walk-on for the Marquette women's lacrosse team, senior defender Erin Dowdle came to campus in the fall of 2016 with nothing promised to her besides an opportunity to try out for the team. Fast-forward four years later and she's a multi-year starter and an All-BIG EAST player for the Golden Eagles.
"I played club lacrosse in high school, but I honestly didn't really think about playing in college," Dowdle said. "After talking to [head] coach [Meredith] Black and [associate head] coach [Caitlin] Fifield, they wanted to have me come try out for the team when I arrived my first fall on campus. I loved Marquette as a school so I decided to try out. Even if I didn't make it, I knew I would like going to school here."
Dowdle was the only walk-on that made the team after going through the tryout process as a freshman. She went on to play in 37 games during the past four years, including all 18 in her junior season – one in which she was named to the all-conference second team. Looking back at the past four years, coach Black could not have imagined her team without the Northbrook, Illinois native.
"Erin is a fierce competitor, but also someone who always has a smile on her face," Black said. "It's a testament to how talented and hard-working she is to go from someone who wasn't even guaranteed a spot on the team to an All-Big East player."
Despite working her way into becoming a quality player in the BIG EAST, she felt intimidated initially because of the skill level her upperclassmen teammates had. Dowdle got her feet wet as an underclassman, playing in nine games during her first two years before becoming a full-time starter as a junior.
"I came in later in the fall my freshmen year and I felt like I was a little bit behind the other girls in terms of skill level," she said. "I just felt like I had to work extra hard to prove myself and to develop into a player who could consistently help the team."
While waiting in the wings and honing her skillset in practice, Dowdle absorbed everything she could from the upperclassmen in front of her on the depth chart. When she finally got the chance to play full-time, she shined. If she's played her last game as a Golden Eagle, the three-time Academic All-BIG EAST selection will leave MU ranking sixth all-time in program history in draw controls (75).
"Erin works so hard and is determined to do whatever it takes to be the best she can," Black said. "She loves the process and truly enjoyed every single day she was out on the field. She's been a consistent force for our team on the draw circle as well as on the defensive end of the field."
The senior defender had big aspirations for her final season in blue & gold – ones that included competing for a BIG EAST title in early May. She won't get a chance to do that this season but didn't close the door on a potential return next season. The NCAA recently announced that to spring athletes would be granted an additional year of eligibility.
"We'll have to wait and see," Dowdle said about a potential return next year. "I just love my teammates, coaches and everyone at Marquette so much. If I have the opportunity to come back and play one more year, it's definitely something I'm going to consider."
It's safe to say that coach Black and the Golden Eagles would love nothing more than to have their senior leader back for one more go around in 2021.
Keep up with the Marquette women's lacrosse program all season long through social media by following on Twitter (@MarquetteWLax) and Instagram (@MarquetteWLax) and `liking' on Facebook (/MarquetteWLax).
