Bowling Green State University women’s soccer head coach Chris Fox has announced the addition of Kate Larbes to his staff. Larbes, a standout player at Morehead State University, helped the Eagles to one of the finest seasons in program history in 2023.

“I am delighted to add Kate to our staff,” said Fox. “Her experience as a player within the system and deep understanding of team culture will be a tremendous resource for our team.

“Kate was a catalyst for our success at Morehead State the past two seasons, leading by example both on and off the field. I attribute so much of our success to her. Kate is a tireless worker, detail oriented and is passionate about the sport of soccer. Kate has a bright future and I’m excited to see the impact she’ll have on our program.”

Larbes earned a plethora of accolades on the pitch last fall, helping the Eagles to the NCAA Tournament for the first time in a decade. She was named to the United Soccer Coaches All-South Region Team, becoming just the fourth student-athlete in program history to earn all-region accolades.

Larbes, a midfielder, was named to the All-Ohio Valley Conference First Team as well as the OVC’s All-Tournament Team. In fact, Larbes was the OVC Tournament’s Most Valuable Player as the Eagles picked up a pair of wins to advance to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2013.

“I am truly grateful and humbled to be welcomed into the Bowling Green soccer family,” said Larbes. “When I stepped on campus, I immediately knew Bowling Green was a special place and I’m eager to get started.

“I want to thank Chris Fox and Derek van der Merwe for placing their trust in me to serve as an assistant coach. I’m so excited to bring my experience as a player to assist in the growth and transition of BG womens soccer on and off the field.”

She led the team with five goals last season, adding a pair of assists for a total of 14 points on the year. Larbes had a pair of two-goal matches, against Detroit Mercy and SIUE, and also scored the match-winning goal against Southeast Missouri in the league tourney’s semifinal round.

Playing under the direction of Fox in her final two seasons, Larbes helped the Eagles go 7-7-4 in the 2022 campaign before posting a 9-6-5 record in 2023. The latter mark was MSU’s best since 2015.

After posting a 4-2-2 league record in ‘22, MSU went 6-1-2 in OVC regular-season play in 2023, finishing second in the conference before going on to capture the tournament title.

Larbes and the Eagles began the 2023 season with a 1-4-3 record, but then went 8-1-2 over the next 11 contests, all against OVC foes. That 11-game run ended with a six-match winning streak – the program’s longest since 2010 – that spanned the end of the regular season and the conference tournament.

The Eagles allowed just four goals in those 11 matches, with eight shutouts during that time. In all, MSU posted nine shutouts on the season, the second-highest total in program history.

Larbes started all 38 matches over her final two seasons, and saw action in a total of 68 games in her collegiate career, making 49 starts. She had seven career goals and 16 points, and played nearly 3,900 total minutes.

She served in a leadership role in all five years with the Eagles, as she was a member of the team’s Leadership Committee from 2019-22 and served as a team captain in both ‘22 and ‘23.

A native of Liberty Township, Ohio, Larbes came to MSU after a standout high-school career at Lakota East H.S. She was a Greater Miami Conference First-Team selection from 2015-18, and also had a standout club career with Cincinnati Development Academy, where she was a member of the USYSA National Championship team in 2017.

“I have known Kate for more than 12 years – first as a youth player, then as a college player, and now as a college coach,” said Bobby Puppione, ECNL Girls Director, Virginia Development Academy

“Kate has always been a committed, impactful, and successful member of every team and organization she has been a part of through her career.

“She was a part of a national championship team as a youth player, played a key role in her team’s success at Morehead State, and is now joining a winning program at BG. We at VDA are looking forward to working with Kate as she looks to bring in and develop top talent to compete for championships in the MAC.”

David Robertson, Academy Director, Nationals SC (Detroit, Mich.), added, “There are always specific individuals who are destined to be coaches, and Kate was one who saw the game differently as a player.

“Her ability to see the game and her natural ability to make those around her better on and off the field while exhibiting a relentless work rate and mentality was evident from day one.

“Being in a quality soccer environment such as Bowling Green and being mentored under Chris Fox and his distinct style of play, I am confident that Kate is a name we will see growing and succeeding for years to come in the soccer world. Bowling Green has nailed this hire, and I look forward to seeing the program’s continued success and growth displayed this fall.”

BGSU finished the 2023 season with an overall record of 10-6-2, and the Falcons went 8-1-2 in MAC play to place second in the 12-team conference. BGSU has advanced to at least the semifinal round of the MAC Tournament in each of the last seven seasons.

The Falcons, who won four-straight MAC regular-season and tournament titles from 2018-21, have a record of 47-8-6 (.820) in league regular-season play since the start of the 2018 season, which is by far the best mark of any conference school.