It seems that Alli Otto and Cassie Bowman were always destined to be together in some way on the soccer field.
Their mothers " Lesley Otto and Kellie Bowman " graduated in the same class from Carson High School. A fellow class member they graduated with was CHS girls soccer coach Randy Roser.
Alli Otto and Cassie Bowman went on to play at CHS for Roser, both graduating in 2006. Otto was an all-Sierra League first team goalie and was named as the Chevron Nevada State Goalie of the Year. Bowman was a two-time Sierra League Midfielder of the Year.
Both helped lead Carson to a 19-1 record in 2005, with the only loss coming to Galena in the Northern 4A championship game. Both then went on to successful collegiate careers.
And now both have come back to help Roser. Otto is the junior varsity coach and has lead CHS to a 10-3 mark in league so far this season. Bowman serves as Roser's assistant on the varsity.
And both are coaching while attending school full-time and holding down jobs. Otto is attending Western Nevada College where she's studying to be an X-ray technician and works full-time as a secretary for Carson Surgical.
Bowman works part-time at Eagle Fitness in Carson City and attends the University of Nevada where she's studying nutrition.
Otto went on to become the starting goalie for WNC in both of her years there and helped led the Wildcats to the Scenic West Conference title and a berth in the National Junior Collegiate Athletic Association playoffs in 2006.
Bowman went on to play as a freshman for NAIA William Penn in Iowa, scoring 17 goals in 2006. In 2007, she transferred to Division I Chatanooga in Tennessee where she served as captain and scored four goals.
Even though they've taken a break from playing to help Roser, both said they haven't ruled out continuing their playing career someday.
"After coaching the girls you just want to stay on the field," Otto said. "I'd like to play. I wouldn't mind playing at a smaller school."
"I feel the same," Bowman said. The original plan was for Bowman to play at Nevada, but with the turmoil that happened in the program, that plan fell through, leading her to helping Roser.
And for now any plans of continuing her playing career will have to be on hold as Bowman will marry another accomplished CHS athlete, Paul Carter, in December. Carter, a 2003 CHS graduate, who won an NIAA 4A State title in wrestling, is also currently the Carson freshmen football coach and has led the team to a 6-1 record, 4-0 in league.
Both Otto and Bowman say they're having a blast. "I have 22 great girls," Otto said. "They're like my sisters. I only want the best for them."
But don't confuse Otto's sentiments for a lack of discipline. Otto stresses discipline as Thursday's practices are devoted entirely to conditioning and sometimes can include a five-mile run.
Otto said being a goalie has really helped her as a coach. "We see the whole field," she said. "I've learned to teach every position."
And if it's not playing, Otto said staying in the game as a coach is a definite possibility. "I would love to keep coaching," she said.
With the JVs, one of Otto's main tasks is obviously to prepare her players for varsity. "Some of them are ready for varsity," she said.
That's a good thing because Carson's varsity has been hit by injuries harder than ever before, forcing JV players to move up.
"Otto's done a really good job," Bowman said. "She has to get them ready to be at varsity level at any time."
Bowman first began working with Roser last spring when she helped him with his 18 and under team. She admitted that sometimes she has to be the disciplinarian. "Sometimes I feel like I have to be the mean one," she said.
But Bowman said her relationship with Roser has worked out really well. During games, Roser takes charge of the defense while Bowman takes charge of the offense.
"He's the authority but we kind of switch in an dout and balance each other out a lot of the times," Bowman said. "He's one of the best coaches that we've had."
And Otto said it's worked out for the best that she's taken the JVs and that Bowman is working with the varsity.
"I think it worked out better because Cassie can deal more with the older players," Otto said.