Julia Percy
Kate Dunne passes the ball to her teammate in Colorado State University's game against University of Nebraska Omaha Sept. 20, 2024. CSU won 1-0.
All good things come in threes.
The Colorado State soccer back line features experienced Ram veteran Kate Dunne alongside Piper Carlson and Kacie Laurie, who have been an immovable force in the face of their opponents. Their combined strength has helped CSU to an overall record of 7-2-2 — their only losses being within one point.
As the most experienced defender on the field, Dunne has become a leader for the back line, imparting her wisdom during her final season with the Rams.
“I want to be someone who gets brought up and everyone says, ‘Oh, she was great; she was friendly and kind.’ And that’s way more important to me than any statistic on the field will ever be.” –Kate Dunne, CSU soccer player
“The biggest thing is it’s just been a privilege to play with different groups of girls and different back lines and learn so much from everyone,” Dunne said. “Sometimes (it feels like) pressure, but I’m trying to look at it as a really good opportunity to help the team get better.”
Helping maintain the standard she has set, Dunne has the assistance of Carlson, who is in her first year playing with CSU.
With over 800 minutes this early into her collegiate career, Carlson is quickly learning from Dunne and Laurie. One concept consistently reinforced by the program is the idea of “coaching people up,” Carlson said.
“You don’t want to call people out on their faults, but if you’re not coaching it, you’re allowing it,” Carlson said. “So that’s something we learned, is I want to coach someone up in the nicest way possible so that they can be better, and then in turn, that’s making me a better teammate.”
And by coaching each other up, this new back line has kept the Rams to only two losses out of 11 games — already an improvement from last season.
Another strong area in the back line is the increased presence of Laurie. Following two seasons at Arkansas, her transfer to CSU in 2024 brought improvement both to her own skills and the team’s capabilities.
Her dedication to the Rams and her teammates is the driving force behind these improvements.
“I’ve just learned that when you really care for your teammates, it’s really easy to give everything you have for them,” Laurie said. “And it’s just, I think our bond is strong, so it’s just exciting to play. Every game is a new opportunity.”
Even with two of the three back line players approaching graduation, the impact they’ve had on each other is clearly reflected in the Rams’ success.
In September of this year, CSU was named No. 25 in the United Soccer Coaches top 25 poll, a first in program history.
While it is undeniable that this achievement is a team effort, there’s no doubt that Dunne’s exceptional performance has greatly impacted the program.
Following her first year with Oklahoma State, she transferred to CSU and bloomed with the Rams. And in her junior year, she played a career-high 1,263 minutes and helped take the team to the Mountain West championships.
“I wish we would have had her for all four years,” head coach Keeley Hagen said. “She’s done a great job and then (is) a really good leader. And it’s been really fun to watch her grow and develop.”
One key to Dunne’s development is the lessons she’s learned from previous players, especially from those on the 2024 team.
A notable influence for her is Kenady Leighton, a star defensive player who contributed to numerous shutout games and set program records. She played with the Rams for five years and was one of the most consistent starters for the team.
“I’ve been observing for three years, and I’ve been observing some of the best leaders I’ve ever come across,” Dunne said. “Like Kenady, for example, from last year. She’s really taught me a lot.”
And through all of her observing, Dunne said she is ready to leave a similar impact on the soccer program, establishing trust in the back line and caring for her teammates on and off the field.
“I want to be someone who gets brought up and everyone says, ‘Oh, she was great; she was friendly and kind,’” Dunne said. “And that’s way more important to me than any statistic on the field will ever be.”
Reach Sophia Schaller at sports@collegian.com or on X @RMCollegianSpts.
Interested in more sports content? Sign up for Ram Report here for weekly CSU sports updates.