Mary McDowell

Position:
Forward
Height:
5-7
Class:
Sophomore
Hometown:
Lakewood, CO

General--A valuable three-year letter-winner for the Tar Heels who has seen significant action and frequent starting experience as both a forward and midfielder for Carolina...the younger sister of former Tar Heel Rebekah McDowell, class of 1999, who played with Philadelphia and Boston in the WUSA...a dynamic forward who was a Parade High School All-America in 2000 and 2001...was named to the adidas/National Soccer Coaches Association of America All-America team in 2000...valedictorian of her high school class in 2001 with a 4.0 GPA in a class of 323 students.

ODP Soccer Experience--A member of the U.S. Under 21 National Team in 2002...was also a member of the U.S. Under-18 National Team beginning in 2000...member of the state ODP team from 1997-2000...member of the Regional ODP Team 1998-2001...played for the Colorado Rush club team...helped lead the Rush to five state championships, four regional championships, one runnerup regional finish and two national championships...she also played club soccer for both the Mile High Mustangs and the Denver Diamonds.

2003 Season--Played in 27 matches for the Tar Heels as a junior and earned seven starting nods...had 20 points on four goals and 12 assists...her 12 assists tied for the fourth highest total on the team...scored the game-winning goal in Carolina's 1-0 regular-season win over Florida State...had two assists in the season opener against Washington State,in the regular season win over NC State and against High Point...had a goal and an assist versus Kentucky, Guilford and in the ACC Tournament quarterfinals versus NC State...named to the 2004 ACC Academic Honor Roll.

2002 Season--She had a solid sophomore campaign as she finished fifth on the team in scoring with 18 points...had five goals and eight assists...scored the game-winning goal against Marquette...started 11 times while playing in all 27 matches...her best game offensively was against Guilford when she had two goals and one assist for five points...she had two assists against Radford in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament...also had single goals against Washington and Florida State.

2001 Season--Named to the 2002 ACC Academic Honor Roll....played in all 25 games for the Tar Heels, starting the season opener against Texas...scored her only goal of the season in the first round NCAA Tournament win over UNC Greensboro...had assists against Tennessee, against Florida State in the regular season and against Wake Forest in the ACC Tournament. Prep--Graduated from Wheat Ridge High School on May 23, 2001...Gatorade National High School Player of the Year in 2000...Colorado Soccer Sportswoman of the Year in 2001...won the 2001 Steinmark Award given to the best all-around high school student-athlete in the state of Colorado...played four years of soccer, ran cross country for four years, competed in track for four years and played basketball for two years...her soccer accolades included first-team All-Conference honors 1999-2001 as well as being the team captain twice and the team MVP once...she was an incredible track athlete, competing in the 200 meters, 400 meters, 4x800 relay, long jump, triple jump and 4x100 relay...as a high school cross country runner, she led her team to league titles in 1998 and 1999...she was named all-conference in the sport in 1999 and 2000 and was all-state in 1999...she qualified for the state high school cross country championship four successive years...she was the team's most valuable runner and the squad's captain in 1999...as a track athlete she was all-conference in the triple jump in 1998, 1999 and 2000 and in the long jump in 2000...she was a state high school qualifier in the triple jump all four years of high school...she also qualified in the long jump, 400 meters and 4x400 relay her junior year...was named Wheat Ridge's most valuable runner in 2000...finished 10th in the state in the long jump in 2000...member of USA Track and Field all-high school squad in 2001...earned high school academic letters 1998-2001 and was on the Honor Roll four straight years.

Personal--Given name is Mary Margaret McDowell...has one brother and three sisters...was born July 25, 1982 in Denver, Colo....is the daughter of Scott and Kathy McDowell...active in Young Life and ACC Outreach activities...member of UNC FCA servant team in 2003...hobbies include movies, ice skating, camping and hiking...athlete she most admires is Michelle Akers...biggest sports thrills were winning club nationals two successive years, scoring each year with a header on her birthday as well as playing on youth national teams...favorite book is Redeeming Love, favorite food is steak and favorite TV show is Who's Line Is It Anyway...her brother Jake played soccer at Holy Cross and was a volunteer assistant coach with the Tar Heels in 2002 and 2003...her sister Rebekah played soccer at Carolina (1996-99) and for three years in the WUSA, her sister Elizabeth played soccer at Wake Forest (1999-2002) and her sister Rachel currently plays at Florida State...recreation administration major...wants to attend graduate school in dental hygiene or going into college campus athlete ministry with Athletes In Action program.