A 5-foot-5-inch senior forward and captain, Hayley Dowd is pushing to lead Boston College back to the NCAA Division 1 women’s soccer tournament. This group of seniors has advanced to the NCAAs twice in its three seasons and made it to the Elite 8 as freshmen.

A communications major at BC, Dowd was a three-time Globe All-Scholastic at Peabody High. She was named a second-team Atlantic Coast Conference all-star as a sophomore and junior for the Eagles.

She had three goals in the team’s first eight games this season, giving her 35 in four years, the fourth-best career total at BC.

Q. What was the highlight of your Peabody High School athletics career?

A. Definitely junior year, when we won the state championship and went undefeated. It was just a lot of fun. You dream of winning a championship and we came through and did it. It’s definitely my favorite memory. They got buses and tons of fans came out to the game at Worcester State. To this date, I think it’s the most people I’ve played in front of. On the ride home we had a police escort to the high school. It made us feel special.

Q. What about a best memory at Boston College so far?

A. Freshman year when we made it to the Elite 8 was pretty fun. We had to go to Nebraska and played Nebraska and then Illinois. They were both ranked, and we were underdogs and we beat them to go to the Elite 8. Nebraska was basically my breakout game. I came off the bench and scored and began to get more playing time.

Q. Was it a pretty goal?

A. I took the ball and was driving down the right side and was kind of crossing it and kind of shooting it and it went in. I’ll take anything.

Q. How do you see your role as a captain?

A. I was a captain in high school and here it’s a little different. We’ve never had this many new people. We have 10 freshmen and a transfer on the roster and we’re trying to make sure all the new players are on the same page. I’m trying to work my hardest and lead by example and hope it rubs off on everyone else.

Q. What’s the best part of your game?

A. I like to think it’s my speed and strength in holding people off when I have the ball. Speed has always been one of my strengths and I work on my strength in the weight room. Some of the defenders we go up against are 5-10, 5-11, 6-feet. I may not be able to win headers against them, but I might be able to blow past them.

Q. What do you plan to do with your communications degree?

A. I’m not too sure. I’ve been thinking about maybe coaching, or continue playing if I can. I’ll see how this season plays out. I’ve coached a bit at camps. We have a pro league in the United States that’s starting to take off and I wouldn’t be opposed to going abroad to play. It’s a dream. There are a few good leagues and former BC players and players I know have gone and played in Germany, Sweden, France, and England.

Q. What do you like most about soccer?

A. I like the team aspect of it. And I like that you can change the game with one goal. One goal means so much. It’s that one pass, one save. You’ve got to be on your toes. In basketball, you can score 20 points. In soccer, one goal is enough, which I like.

Q. What’s your favorite place to visit in New England?

A. Recently it’s been Plum Island. I go with my friends and cousins and we go to the beach and hang out, play Frisbee, play Spikeball. Sometimes we’ll have a fire. Usually we’ll go at sunset. It’s pretty and the sand is real nice.

Q. Spikeball, the game that you play the ball off what looks like a tiny trampoline?

A. Yeah, it’s a good workout. I’m a pretty competitive person and it gets pretty competitive.

Q. Have any good tips for playing Spikeball?

A. It’s a tough game for giving tips. But it’s a thinking game. Be one step ahead and fake them out.

Allen Lessels

For full interview, go to bostonglobe.com/north.