The Consummate Cowgirl

By Meagan Bordayo, OSU Communications

Colin Carmichael calls Natalie Calhoun "the kind of young lady you'd want your daughter to grow up to be like."

And for the Oklahoma State head coach, having Calhoun as a cornerstone of the Cowgirl soccer program over the last four years has been rewarding.

She might not dominate the headlines or fill up the stat sheet, but Calhoun is the heart and soul of this Cowgirl squad.

"I trust Natalie more than any player I've probably ever played with," said OSU goalie Michela Ongaro. "Natalie is the best of the best. You are not going to get a more talented, consistent or hardworking player than Natalie. I feel very lucky to that she is on my team and not somebody else's. I would pick Natalie over any player in the country. I mean that. She is an elite player with high class, and I feel very lucky that I get to play with her."

Calhoun played her first soccer game at the age of five and has been making an impact on each team she's played for ever since.

Recruited from Sachse, Texas, Calhoun had quite the resume. She was a member of the U.S. U-17 National Team, and she also played for Sting '95, helping the club to four North Texas State Cup championships, two USYS national championships and an ECNL national title. She was ranked the No. 52 defender nationally by TopDrawerSoccer.com and also held offers Texas and Tennessee before committing to OSU.

"Natalie (Calhoun) was a really big recruit out of Dallas," Carmichael said. "She played on one of the best club teams in the country and had been with the youth national team so we knew she was pretty special when she committed here."

Calhoun proved that immediately as an OSU freshman, and she hasn't slowed down since. She has started in 72 consecutive games for the Cowgirls as a defender and earned All-Big 12 Second Team honors each of the past three years.

How impressive is that? Calhoun is one of only seven players in OSU's storied soccer history to achieve all-conference status at least three times in a career. And as a Preseason All-Big 12 selection, she is poised to become just the third Cowgirl to achieve All-Big 12 status four times.

She's also recognized by TopDrawerSoccer.com as one of 2016's Top 100 players in women's college soccer, as she ranks No. 82 on that list.

And while Calhoun may have just three goals in 73 career games, it's keeping the ball out of the net that makes her so valuable. She knows that her main job on the field is to protect the goalkeeper, be the eyes of the field and let her teammates know what's going on and what they can do. In short, she does everything in her power to defend OSU's goal.

And one thing is certain – over the years, Calhoun has earned the respect of her team, for which she is a three-year captain. That and her success on the field have helped her become a more vocal and better leader on the field.

Calhoun said she was quiet when she first arrived at OSU but learned quickly that in order to be successful, she needed to speak up.

"I'm a very to myself kind of person so I've learned to branch out. It's kind of taught me more than just soccer. It's taught me social skills," Calhoun said.

While she has found success on the field, she has also thrived away from the pitch, earning Academic All-Big 12 First Team honors every year.

Carmichael said his senior defender is highly driven and just as competitive in the classroom as she is on the field. He admires not only her leadership but also her character.

"She's a well-mannered kid, and you can tell her parents did a great job of raising her," Carmichael said. "She's a good person, a competitive person, a loyal person and like I said, if your daughter grew up to be somewhat like Natalie, I think you'd be a pretty happy guy."

As she wraps up her career at OSU, Calhoun has high expectations for herself and the team.

Carmichael hopes Calhoun is able to enjoy a successful Cowgirl season, adding that with the hard work she has put in, she deserves to go out with a Big 12 championship and NCAA tournament berth.

Calhoun has similar expectations, but she also wants to make sure she appreciates her opportunities as her career winds down.

"This team is kind of everything to me," Calhoun said. "It's my last season and the last time I'll get to be with this group of girls. They're like family to me. It's the hardest four years of your life, but it's the most fun and these girls got me through it. It's been awesome."

Oklahoma State University Athletics

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