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Caitlin Cosme: Pride On and Off the Field
3/16/2023 11:33:00 AM | Women's Soccer
By Morgan Pruchniewski, Duke Athletic Communications Student Assistant
DURHAM -- After an impressive career with Duke women's soccer, Caitlin Cosme is continuing to make her mark - with accomplishments both on and off the field.
Cosme joined the Blue Devils in 2017 and proved to be a valuable asset to the program. The defender started 62 matches throughout her time at Duke, playing nearly 6,000 minutes and racking up 21 points throughout her five-year campaign. Cosme was voted team captain and was also selected for the 2020-21 United Soccer Coaches All-Atlantic Region First Team.
After playing only eight career matches in 2017 and 2018, Cosme worked her way into the starting lineup and became one of the top defenders in the nation. She started 59 of her final 62 matches as a Blue Devil and helped the Duke defense to 32 shutouts over that span. She proved she was more than a defender as well, collecting 10 goals.
Finishing up her impressive run at Duke, Cosme was selected 10th overall in the 2022 NWSL draft by the Orlando Pride, making her the first Blue Devil since 2018 to have been drafted in the first round.
Cosme was injured early in her time at Orlando, but has still been making the most of the experience and the transition from college play to the pros.
"My first year in the pros was in a word: unforgettable," said Cosme. "The NWSL has been eye-opening, it's been a culture shock but I've loved it. The one good thing about being injured is that I got to do a lot of observing, I felt like I was a sponge."
During her time with the Pride, Cosme has been able to learn from a world class coaching staff and teammates.
"The women on my team are incredible and super inspiring," raved Cosme. "The speed of play and the competitiveness of these women is something I'd never been around before. I feel lucky to be in this environment."
Even with being out for most of the season with injuries, Cosme was still able to be a valuable member of the Pride.
"My proudest moment had to do with my team," said Cosme. "I'm so proud of how we adapted and adjusted to all the adversity we dealt with. I knew I needed to provide value to this team, even though I couldn't be on the field, and I think one of my proudest moments was getting that recognition of being a great teammate. My biggest goals are team comradery, leadership and creating a team culture."
Cosme accredits her time at Duke for the preparation she needed to develop her attitude and work ethic that she's taken with her to the pros.
"At Duke I wasn't an automatic superstar, I had to work for it," said Cosme. "I've been in almost every position, so coming into the pros I was able to understand that this is a process, it takes time, you have to work for it. Duke really prepared me for that. Everyone at Duke - Robbie [Church], Carla [Overbeck], Kieran [Hall], Lane [Davis], all the girls I had the pleasure of playing with - has taught me more than I ever could've imagined."
She's kept her Duke connections close to her during her time in the pros. Cosme considers Duke a family, and those relationships have followed her to Orlando.
"I talk to my Duke family all of the time," said Cosme. "The coaches do such a great job of keeping in touch and I've been able to visit and keep up with the team. It really was a family, and me, Lily [Nabet], and Tess [Boade] were able to get so close, they're like sisters."
Cosme has stayed busy during her injury pursuing her other passion - healthcare. In addition to her professional soccer career, she's been studying hard to take the MCAT.
"I plan on taking the MCAT in March," Cosme said. "I thought to myself, what are the next steps in my career. Trying to prepare for the next chapter in my life in addition to preparing to come back healthy for next season."
With being cleared to train again, Cosme has big goals for this season with the Pride.
"I'm looking forward to practicing and being able to play, being able to compete for a spot, and winning," said Cosme. "I'm really excited to start the season and get back out there."
Support Cosme and the rest of the Orlando Pride by watching their season opener against the Portland Thorns on March 26th
#GoDuke
DURHAM -- After an impressive career with Duke women's soccer, Caitlin Cosme is continuing to make her mark - with accomplishments both on and off the field.
Cosme joined the Blue Devils in 2017 and proved to be a valuable asset to the program. The defender started 62 matches throughout her time at Duke, playing nearly 6,000 minutes and racking up 21 points throughout her five-year campaign. Cosme was voted team captain and was also selected for the 2020-21 United Soccer Coaches All-Atlantic Region First Team.
After playing only eight career matches in 2017 and 2018, Cosme worked her way into the starting lineup and became one of the top defenders in the nation. She started 59 of her final 62 matches as a Blue Devil and helped the Duke defense to 32 shutouts over that span. She proved she was more than a defender as well, collecting 10 goals.
Finishing up her impressive run at Duke, Cosme was selected 10th overall in the 2022 NWSL draft by the Orlando Pride, making her the first Blue Devil since 2018 to have been drafted in the first round.
Cosme was injured early in her time at Orlando, but has still been making the most of the experience and the transition from college play to the pros.
"My first year in the pros was in a word: unforgettable," said Cosme. "The NWSL has been eye-opening, it's been a culture shock but I've loved it. The one good thing about being injured is that I got to do a lot of observing, I felt like I was a sponge."
During her time with the Pride, Cosme has been able to learn from a world class coaching staff and teammates.
"The women on my team are incredible and super inspiring," raved Cosme. "The speed of play and the competitiveness of these women is something I'd never been around before. I feel lucky to be in this environment."
Even with being out for most of the season with injuries, Cosme was still able to be a valuable member of the Pride.
"My proudest moment had to do with my team," said Cosme. "I'm so proud of how we adapted and adjusted to all the adversity we dealt with. I knew I needed to provide value to this team, even though I couldn't be on the field, and I think one of my proudest moments was getting that recognition of being a great teammate. My biggest goals are team comradery, leadership and creating a team culture."
Cosme accredits her time at Duke for the preparation she needed to develop her attitude and work ethic that she's taken with her to the pros.
"At Duke I wasn't an automatic superstar, I had to work for it," said Cosme. "I've been in almost every position, so coming into the pros I was able to understand that this is a process, it takes time, you have to work for it. Duke really prepared me for that. Everyone at Duke - Robbie [Church], Carla [Overbeck], Kieran [Hall], Lane [Davis], all the girls I had the pleasure of playing with - has taught me more than I ever could've imagined."
She's kept her Duke connections close to her during her time in the pros. Cosme considers Duke a family, and those relationships have followed her to Orlando.
"I talk to my Duke family all of the time," said Cosme. "The coaches do such a great job of keeping in touch and I've been able to visit and keep up with the team. It really was a family, and me, Lily [Nabet], and Tess [Boade] were able to get so close, they're like sisters."
Cosme has stayed busy during her injury pursuing her other passion - healthcare. In addition to her professional soccer career, she's been studying hard to take the MCAT.
"I plan on taking the MCAT in March," Cosme said. "I thought to myself, what are the next steps in my career. Trying to prepare for the next chapter in my life in addition to preparing to come back healthy for next season."
With being cleared to train again, Cosme has big goals for this season with the Pride.
"I'm looking forward to practicing and being able to play, being able to compete for a spot, and winning," said Cosme. "I'm really excited to start the season and get back out there."
Support Cosme and the rest of the Orlando Pride by watching their season opener against the Portland Thorns on March 26th
#GoDuke
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