Chris Dowd is an aggressive and unselfish player.
Those attributes would serve any midfielder well, and the rising school from the Hotchkiss School in Lakeville, Conn., is no exception.
The 5-foot-11, 180-pound lefty was recruited by several Division I and III programs before deciding on D-III power Tufts, which won the 2010 national title.
Now, here’s a Q&A with Chris on his commitment.
What were the main factors in your decision?
Primarily. I wanted to be at a school that would challenge me as a student-athlete and as a competitor.
What other schools were you considering and what schools did you visit?
I visited a broad range of schools, including Navy, Dartmouth, Brown, Georgetown, Bryant, Middlebury, Amherst, Williams, Gettysburg and Tufts.
It really came down to Georgetown, Dartmouth, Amherst, Gettysburg and Tufts. I knew as soon as I spent the afternoon with (Tufts Head) Coach (Mike) Daly on campus, that it was my first choice.
What are your strengths as a player and how would you describe your style of play?
My strengths are my ability to create separation, on-ball defense and my shot on the run. I try to play very fast-paced, but try and be creative at the same time.
What areas of your game have you been working to improve on?
I have been working a bunch on my time-and-room shooting with both hands.
What travel team did you play on and what were some of the big showcase events you participated in this summer?
I played for Laxachusetts. I went to Adrenaline Black Card Showcase, the Prep School Showcase, NSCLA Cup, King of the Hill, Brown
Camp, Dartmouth Camp, and the UMass Mid-Summer Classic.
Who have been some of the biggest influences on you during your development as a player?
I would say my family, but especially my dad (Patrick). He was with me at almost every tournament and visit, always with a positive attitude and always trying to help.
Then I would say all the coaches at Laxachusetts and NorCal (especially Bill Glazier).
My football coach and academic advisor at school, Danny Smith, has been a huge influence on me since my freshman year.
Then I would say all my teammates from this summer with Laxachusetts, it was an awesome group of guys.
* For more info on Chris, check out his player profile by clicking here.
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Posted In: Recruiting Rundown
Great news! Congrats to you CHristopher.
This kid is an animal in groundballs and dodging from up top. He will represent Hotchkiss well.