SAN RAFAEL, Calif. — When Katie Brown plays the final game of her Dominican soccer career this Sunday afternoon against Notre Dame de Namur University at Forest Meadows Field, she intends to make a statement. Two, actually.

She wants to prove that the Lady Penguins are a better team than they've shown on the field this season and the Dominican senior is every bit as good as when she was a sophomore and named to the NSCAA's All-Far West Region team.

That is Statement number one. Statement number two is a little more obvious. She once again will wear a black-and-gold pre-wrap in her hair.

“It's a fashion statement,” Brown said, smiling. “I've been wearing it ever since I've been here.”

Brown wore it on October 18 in Belmont when the black-and-gold clad Lady Penguins last played at NDNU, their Pacific West Conference rival. She said NDNU fans heckled her about it.

But what the Argonauts and other opposing teams and their fans probably don't know about Brown is how serious she is about fashion. A business and management major with a minor in art, Brown publishes her own blog, plus she worked as an intern this past summer at Tres Chic near her hometown of San Diego. Brown longs someday to own a boutique shop or online fashion store.

“We all think she is such a fashionista and always look forward to what she is going to wear,” said senior co-captain Shayna Elkins.

Though Brown insists she came to Dominican to play soccer, she has evolved into a quintessential student-athlete. She has been named to the PacWest All-Academic team the past two seasons and at the conclusion of the last academic school year she was named Dominican's “Female Scholar-Athlete of the Year.”

“Katie has been a constant for us over the past four years. We knew that she had the ability to be a starter coming in as a freshmen and she has improved all four years she has been here,” said Jon Delano, Dominican's Director of Soccer. “There is no doubt in my mind that Katie will be successful in whichever direction she chooses to go in as a working professional. Her consistent play, leadership, and passion for soccer will forever leave an imprint on Dominican women's soccer. I am a better coach, and person, for having been around Katie for the past four years.”

Brown's teammates have a great appreciation for her, too, and it goes beyond the playing field. They love her sense of fashion as much as her corner kicks.

“They all want me to take them shopping,” Brown jokes.

The biggest thing on Brown's mind this week is to fashion a victory in her last game for Dominican. Her parents, sister and grandparents will be in attendance, a support of family that was evident when Brown began playing for the Lady Penguins and scored two goals in the second game of her career with her mom and dad in the stands.

“That was pretty awesome,” Brown said. “I'm a left defender scoring two goals?! That's kind of out of leftfield.”

Of course, Brown's four years at Dominican have a little out of the ordinary. Her Dominican experience has been rewarding on many levels.

“It's been more than I expected. A better experience,” Brown said. “I've gotten exposure to a lot of different people who excel in different areas. I didn't expect the faculty and coaching staff to be so supportive and involved on the educational side and sports side.”

Nor did Brown expect her college career to evolve into her becoming a blogger.  It started out as a hobby, but this summer she helped the manager of the boutique she worked at promote her line of clothes through the blog and social media.

Brown has become quite the trendsetter on and off the soccer field.

“My style ranges,” she said. “It's trendy. Bohemian. It's fun. It's unique. It's whatever I'm feeling.”

By Sunday afternoon, Brown hopes to be in a good mood by being on the positive end of the score, reflecting fondly on four years of competition at Dominican. She wants her college soccer career to end with two statements.

With substance and style.