Teammate

Editor's Note: The following story is part of a series highlighting the members of the 2022 Washington State Athletic Hall of Fame Class. The Hall of Fame induction will take place, Sept. 16-17, at the Washington State University campus. The induction dinner will be held Sept. 16 at Beasley Coliseum with the 2022 class also being recognized at the Washington State-Colorado State football game at Gesa Field the following day. 

When she learned of her induction to the Washington State Athletic Hall of Fame, Kiersten Dallstream flashed back to her playing career, and who she shared the field with.

"It made me think of all the teammates I had at Washington State," Dallstream said by phone. "Thinking about them and all the memories we made with each other."

Many wonderful memories were created during Dallstream's time as a player on the Cougar soccer team from 2006 to 2009.

And one more memory will be made when she is inducted to the Washington State Athletic Hall of Fame, Sept. 16.

Felt like home

Dallstream's soccer prowess was developed as a member of the Sereno Soccer Club in Arizona where she played under coach Matt Potter, who would later become her head coach at WSU.

"One of the most talented players I've had the privilege to coach, even to this day," said Potter, the head coach of the Cougar soccer program from 2003 to 2011 and currently the head coach of the Kansas City Current of the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL). "Big time players show up in the big games and she showed up in the big games.

"She was a person you could trust. Loyal. Incredibly competitive and hard worker," Potter continued when describing Dallstream. "You want those people on your team."

When Potter was at WSU, he wanted Dallstream to join him in Pullman. During a visit to campus, she knew WSU was the right fit for her.

"I made the decision to go to WSU because of how I felt," she said. "I felt really comfortable. It felt like home and this is where I needed to be."

Arriving at WSU in 2006, Dallstream joined many of her teammates from Sereno.

"It's really important to be as comfortable as possible so you can play well," Dallstream said. "That is what Matt provided for us. That level of familiarity is what really made us successful at Washington State.

"We were playing with people who we grew up with and there is nothing more fun than playing with people you know and trust," Dallstream added.

Gold and back-to-back trips to the NCAAs

During the 2007 season, Dallstream's sophomore year, it seemed the Cougars were won track for their first NCAA berth since 2002. WSU was ranked for seven weeks and capped its season with a 2-1 victory over fourth-ranked and 2007 national champion USC.

However, despite finishing the season with an 11-5-3 mark, the Cougars were denied an NCAA bid and the disappointment was felt throughout the team.

"We were thinking, 'What else do we have to do to get into the tournament?'" said Dallstream, who led the Cougars with 10 goals and 24 points and was named All-Pac-10 First Team.

In February of 2007, Dallstream was selected to participate in the Under-20 Women's National Team training camp. A year later, Dallstream advanced to participating in the United States Under-20 Women's National Team's training camp and was eventually selected to the team that would take part in the FIFA Under-20 World Cup, which would take place Nov. 19 to Dec. 6 in Chile.

That spot on the calendar presented Dallstream with a difficult choice that summer. If the Cougars did reach the NCAA Tournament, Dallstream would miss playing, as she would be with the U.S. Team. 

"I struggled with the decision," Dallstream admitted. "I knew we had a good chance to make it to the NCAAs because of the year before, when we almost made it in."

Dallstream made the decision to play for the U.S. team in the event the Cougars advanced to the NCAA Tournament. Then, she and her teammates set out to earn the program's first NCAA berth since 2002.

They did just that, securing the NCAA bid by defeating Arizona State 1-0 at a fog-shrouded Lower Soccer Field.

It is a memory that still stands out for Dallstream.

"Heavy, heavy fog," Dallstream remembered of that match. "You couldn't see downfield."

While the Cougars played at the NCAA Tournament, Dallstream and the United States team captured gold at the World Cup.

Though she said it was hard to not be with her team at the NCAA Tournament, Dallstream described her experiences with the U.S. team as "life-changing."

It was one that would pay dividends heading into her senior season.

"While I was playing with the U.S. team, I learned how to be more professional with my training habits and my fitness," Dallstream explained. "I learned a lot, from the numerous camps and playing on a huge stage like that. 

"I felt the most prepared I've been for a season," Dallstream added. 

Entering her senior season in 2009, Dallstream and her teammates were on a mission.

"Let's go for it this senior year," Dallstream remembered. "Obviously, all the seniors felt like that. This is our last year, so let's go for it."

The 2009 season turned out to be a landmark year for the program as the Cougars set or tied 22 school records en route to a 14-6-2 mark, typing a program record for wins. 

The Cougars made a second-consecutive NCAA postseason appearance for the first time in school history, advancing to the second round.

Dallstream, who led Cougars with 13 goals and 33 points in 2009, was part of a senior class that finished its career undefeated against Arizona, Oregon, USC and Washington.

"The stars aligned that year for me," Dallstream said. "I performed the best I possibly could and not have any regrets, which was a good way to go."

Dallstream completed her career ranked on the Cougar career list in goals (third-30), multiple-goal matches (third-six), points (third-76), game-winning goals (T-third-seven), assists (T-third-16), shots (fourth-198), matches played (T-sixth-75) and matches started (eighth-72).

"One of the biggest things we could give a compliment to a player is that Kiersten made the scouting report for every team we played; yet, she still managed to perform to the level she did," Potter said. 

Professional

Dallstream turned her focus to playing professionally when she was drafted by the Los Angeles Sol in the first round of Women's Pro Soccer draft. However, the franchise soon folded, and she was selected by Sky Blue FC in WPS Dispersal Draft. Dallstream played for Sky Blue FC in 2010 and was traded to Boston Breakers in 2011.

"It was hard not having job security," Dallstream said of those first years playing professionally. "It was difficult." 

 In 2013, Dallstream returned back to Washington signing with the Seattle Reign FC for the inaugural season of the NWSL in 2013. 

"It got a lot better to kind of a reset and play in Washington again," Dallstream said. "That was special. Coug fans would come to games and say hello."

Today, Cougar soccer is well-represented in the professional ranks with Morgan Weaver, Trinity Rodman, Averie Collins, Ella Dederick, Makamae Gomera-Stevens, Elyse Bennett, and Sydney Pulver currently playing in the NWSL. 

All followed in the footsteps of Dallstream.

"It felt good to represent Washington State," Dallstream said. "No one from our school was playing in the league except me and to represent Washington State and show people we can play professionally, it was nice to do that."

In 2019, Dallstream made the decision to retire.

"I was happy I did it for as long as I did," she said.

Today, Dallstream, who worked toward her master's in marine and environmental affairs while playing for the Reign and a wildlife ecology major at WSU, still lives in the Seattle area as a natural resource analyst. 

Set the foundation

Since 2009, the soccer program has reached the NCAA postseason nine times, including a run to the Final Four at the College Cup in 2019.

Dallstream still follows the program closely and describes what the Cougars have done since she graduated as "amazing."

"Kiersten was an integral part of the group that put the program on a national stage," Potter said. "It set a foundation that has lasted long after we have all gone."

As she reflects on her Hall of Fame honor and her time at WSU and what it means to be a Coug, Dallstream once again remembers the people she played the game with.

"I go back to all the teammates and all the crazy moments we shared and memories we had together. I can picture their faces. What it means to me is them. I see them."