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Sunday, November 26, 2023, TRIB-LIVE
Gail Murphy watched Katie Livingston battle through a back injury during her senior season to play for the Denison women’s soccer program. When Livingston, a Fox Chapel graduate, was named to the North Coast Athletic Conference All-Decade team, it was a fact that made Murphy proud.
“Those coaches for her didn’t know she was hurt,” said Murphy, who has coached at Denison for 27 years.
At the time, Livingston was honored with the conference’s Defensive Player of the Year award. That made her eligible for the All-Decade team.
Livingston earned her place on the conference’s All-Decade team despite only playing for three seasons as a defender. Livingston had her 2020 season wiped out by the covid-19 pandemic. She chose not to use the extra year of eligibility the NCAA granted to students who were in school during the pandemic..
Currently, Livingston is studying at Tufts University in Medford, Mass., for a doctorate in physical therapy. She will finish with the program in 2025.
“It was a tough decision,” Livingston said. “I knew to do my degree, I wouldn’t be able to pursue a fifth year of eligibility.”
Livingston made an impact from the time she stepped on campus at Denison. She started in all 51 games she played in during her career. Livingston scored five goals, including a career-high three during her senior season in 2021.
Livingston said she adjusted quickly during her freshman season.
“I think it was slightly different,” Livingston said. “College and high school were similar in that we wanted to connect the ball from the back and not just boot it forward. I had more of a connection with the goalie (at Denison) and the rest of the defense to get the ball forward. It was an easy transition once I learned the skill set.”
Livingston’s best work came on defense. During her senior season, she led a Denison team that allowed a conference-low 0.25 goals per game.
Denison only allowed 13 goals and recorded eight shutouts during the 2021 season on the way to the NCAC regular-season title.
The Big Red won two regular-season conference titles during Livingston’s time at Denison. In 2021, Denison was upset in the NCAC semifinals.
“During her senior year, it was tough because covid was still active and we had some issues,” Murphy said. “There were times that we only had 13 field players available. For us to go 7-0-1 in conference was incredible.”
Livingston enjoyed her time as a college athlete. She also knows that it helped prepare her for entering post-graduate studies.
“It was one of the most important things to do for a graduate and professional career afterward,” Livingston said. “Every minute of my day was scheduled out. It seemed daunting at the time. I appreciate it. I’m able to organize my time better and anything else I’m involved with. It prepared me well.”