Born and raised in Carmel, Indiana, Dowling attended Carmel High School where she captained the soccer team to the state championship as a senior. She was named the 2000 IndianaPlayer of the Year the same year. Dowling earned Parade All-American honors and was named Hamilton County and Metro Player of the Year. She was named to the 2000 NSCAA/adidas High School All-America team and to the organization's Youth All-America unit. Dowling set her school's all-time assist record and was an all-state selection in 1999 and 2000. Dowling also played for the club team, Carmel Cosmos, and helped them win the state championship multiple times. The team was the national runner-up in 2000.
Dowling attended the University of Tennessee where she played for the Lady Vols from 2001 to 2004. 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. During her career, the Lady Vols compiled a 63–22–6 overall record. Dowling was twice named Central Regional Player of the Year in 2003 and 2004 and earned back-to-back SEC Defensive Player of the Year awards the same years. She was a four-time All-SEC selection and two-time National Player of the Year semifinalist. Dowling also earned All-American honors. During her collegiate career, Dowling scored 25 goals and served 15 assists for 65 points. She started all 89 games in which she played. She was added to the school's top 10 lists for career matches played, matches started, points and goals.
In October 2008, Dowling was the eighth overall pick of the WPS Allocation Draft by Sky Blue FC. 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. She later joined her team at the White Housein the summer of 2010 when the team was honored by President Barack Obama. During the 2009 season, Dowling played in 22 games, starting 21. She returned to the squad in 2010 and appeared in 20 games with 18 starts.
Dowling signed with the Atlanta Beat for the 2011 season. 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. The injury required season-ending surgery. Dowling ended the season prematurely with 11 starts in 11 games played.
International
Dowling represented the United States on the under-19 women's national soccer team and captained the gold-winning team to the first ever FIFA U-19 Women's World Championship. Two years later, she helped the United States under-21 team win gold at the Nordic Cup. 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.
