Dowling earned Parade All-American honors and was named Hamilton County and Metro Player of the Year.

Dowling also played for the club team, Carmel Cosmos, and helped them win the state championship multiple times.

She earned three consecutive All-America selections during her playing career at Tennessee and helped lead the Lady Vols to their first Sweet 16 in 2002.

[5] After earning a starting spot as a defender, Dowling helped Sky Blue win the 2009 WPS championship title with her game-winning goal during a 1–0 semifinal 1–0 victory over the St. Louis Athletica.

[11] Towards the end of the season, she tore the anterior cruciate ligament in her right knee when she landed awkwardly after attempting to play a long ball downfield during a match against the Boston Breakers.

She was called up for training camps for the senior national team in preparation for the 2007 Algarve Cup in Portugal in 2007 and 2008 Olympics, but did not make the final rosters.