Athletic Communications intern Liam Anderson sat down with current America East Conference Defensive Player of the Week Abbey Cowles.

UMBC's defense has allowed an average of 1.54 goals per game, a significant improvement from last season. How have you and the defensive line worked together to tighten up at the back?

There's just a lot more trust this year between our back lines and the defensive midfielders. I think that we just kind of have a bit more grit this year. And since many of us have all that experience, that chemistry is finally coming together. We're getting places, and everyone's helping on cover defense, and it's looking a lot better.

You made 8 key saves in the recent game against UMass Lowell, helping secure a narrow victory. Can you describe your thought process during one of those crucial saves?

So, a lot of the time, I'm at my best when I don't think. It's more I see and I react. It's times when I think a bit more when I struggle. So when I just see something and my body just naturally goes, that's when I make the best saves.

Goalkeeping comes with immense pressure, especially in tight games. How do you stay composed when the game is on the line?

 I think it's important to have a goldfish mentality. Everyone will make a mistake; I'll make mistakes. It's about minimizing mistakes, letting them go, and moving on to the next play. Being confident in my backline and my team as a whole also helps with composure because I know I can trust them to make important plays.

Has a coach or mentor had a significant impact on your development as a goalkeeper? What's the best piece of advice they've given you?

When I was playing at Cedar Stars Academy, my high school coach, Chris Duggan, was coaching at Princeton, and we play them in a couple of weeks, and I'm excited to see him. He didn't necessarily give me any advice; it was more like he saw and shaped my raw talent. And he was confident in my abilities, even when I might not have been confident in myself. So, he believed in me a lot and invested time and energy into me. And that's something that I really appreciate. And I recognized all that love that he put into it.

You were recently named America East Defensive Player of the Week—what does that recognition mean to you personally, and how does it reflect your hard work?

It feels great to get that recognition. But it's not just a one-woman show. I really have to thank my backline for clearing the ball out and denying entry balls and shots. So it's not just my win. It's the entire team's win, especially my backs, who don't always get the recognition that they deserve. They put in so much hard work.

You've been sharing time in goal this season with Sara Gavagan and Amara Codd until recently. How do you approach each game, knowing you may only sometimes play the full 90 minutes, and how does that dynamic affect the relationships you guys keep off the field?

We have an exceptional group of the three of us. There's a lot of love between the three of us. We all support and encourage, and every day we compete with each other. So, there's no toxicity in our environment at all. And that has helped us all grow, even if I might only play part of the game. It's maximizing what I do with the minutes that I get. So if I hear, hey, I'm starting this game, I know that the first 45 minutes, I need to give it my all. And then if I get the call that I'm staying in for the second half, I just continue that on to the second half. So it's easier to like and play the whole game. But then, you know, if I'm not, we always put that energy into whoever is next in line.

Even though you're not in a traditional captain role, goalkeepers naturally lead from the back. How do you assert yourself and communicate with your teammates to keep everyone organized?

I have to find effective, precise, and efficient communication and keep everything short and simple to make everyone hear me. There's a lot of trust here, especially this year. This year, I can count on people to listen and react to what I say. So, figuring out what makes everyone tick and what effective ways to communicate with everyone are significant. So, I might communicate differently with my center backs than the midfielders or the outside backs. It's just ensuring that my communication is consistent and tailored to who I'm talking to.

Do you have any specific routines or superstitions that help you get into the right mindset before a match?

Before games, I always have an energy drink and then play solitaire on my phone. It sounds silly, but I use the caffeine from the energy drink to get my body going and my mind racing, but then playing solitaire calms you down a bit. Before the games, after our little huddle in the middle and we go to our sides, I always touch the goal line, take seven steps, and start on my six for every game. And I've been doing that for as long as I can remember, but the little things prepare me. And it's just like second nature now. I don't even think about it.

Is there a particular moment in training or a game that you feel has defined your growth as a player this season?

The UMass Lowell game was the most action I've had this season. Our defense has done an incredible job blocking shots and not giving them opportunities. We've been unlucky with the opportunities that we get. Many of the goals scored on us in non-conference play have just been great finishes. But UMass Lowell was hard because it was the most I had to do. My confidence wasn't all there this season, but after that initial save against UMass Lowell, I was like, okay, the next one. And, each save after brings more and more confidence. And since I haven't had to do all that much until then, that built my confidence for the game we played last night. And I definitely played very confidently last night. I made some pretty good saves. The results stink, but with each save, I think that I get better as a player and a teammate.  I've just become more confident in myself, and that's when I play best.

When you're not on the soccer field or studying, what activities or hobbies help you relax and recharge?

I like to bake. I'll go over and hang out with some of my teammates and make brownies on special occasions. I'm good at making French macarons, which are very hard to make. Food is a way for me to express my care for people. That's how my parents always offer me snacks. So, that's a way they express love for me. So, baking and sharing with my teammates is something I enjoy doing because that's how I show friendship, care, and love for everyone else.

Lastly.Why UMBC?

When I was in high school, UMBC gave me a chance. I worked hard in an ID camp, and they recognized that hard work, and they were like, Oh, we'll give Abby Cowles a try. Luckily, UMBC had a major that I was very passionate about. I'm a computer science major, but I'm on the cybersecurity track, and only some have that. I have wanted to do cybersecurity since high school. From an academic standpoint, this is a great school. But, I chose to stay at UMBC because of my teammates. The culture we have cultivated has just been unmatched. And I've heard from people that have transferred in, and they're like, wow, the environment is night and day. At UMBC, it's just something you can't replicate. The community is so good. The culture is so good. I genuinely love and care about every single person on the team, with no exceptions. I could spend time doing something with anyone on the team; I love being here.