#18 Kaela Little 2015-16 Women's Soccer Roster

HIGHLIGHTS:

• 2016 Team Co-MVP
• 2016 All-ACC Third Team
• 2016 All-ACC Academic Team
• 2014 All-ACC Third Team
• ACC Defensive Player of the Week (Nov. 3, 2015)
• ACC Player of the Week (Sept. 30, 2014)
• Top Drawer Soccer Team of the Week (Sept. 9, 2014; Sept. 30, 2014)
• College Sports Madness ACC Player of the Week (Sept. 30, 2014)
• College Sports Madness National Defensive Women’s Soccer Player of hte Week (Sept. 30, 2014)
• ESPNW Women’s Soccer Player of the Week Finalist (Oct. 1, 2014)
• 2013 U.S. U-20 Women’s National Team
• 2013 Notre Dame Most Valuable Freshman

AS A SENIOR:

• Started all 21 games for the Irish during her senior season
• Set  career bests in GAA (0.41), saves (91), save percentage (.910) and solo shutouts (13, combined for 15)
• Ranked fourth in the country in save percentage, fifth in shutouts, and seventh in goals against average
• Ranked first in the ACC in save percentage (.910) and shutouts (13), second in GAA (0.41), and fourth in saves (91)
• Ended career ranking first in program history in solo shutouts (38) and save percentage (.838), third in minutes (7,249:45) and goalkeeper starts (78) and fourth in goals against average (0.66)
• Earned a monogram

AS A JUNIOR:

• Returned from injury to take over the starter’s role in the season’s seventh game
• Finished the season with 16 appearances and 14 starts, recording 1319:41 minutes in goal
• Turned in another stellar season as the Irish held opponents to just 11 goals
• Allowed just one goal each to No. 11 Clemson, No. 1 Virginia and No. 3 Florida State to start the Atlantic Coast Conference season
• Recorded seven solo shutouts on the season, including against No. 5 Virginia Tech and No. 22 Duke
• Named ACC Defensive Player of the Week (Nov. 3) after a shutout effort with five saves against No. 5 Virginia Tech
• Finished third in the conference with a 0.55 goals against average and sixth with an .800 save percentage
• Ranked second in the ACC in shutouts per game (0.44, 16 games)
• Earned a monogram

AS A SOPHOMORE:

• Started at goalkeeper in all 21 games in which she played during her sophomore season
• Played a total of 1,940 minutes
• Played the full 90+ minutes in all games, including three overtime contests
• Made a total of 72 saves with 12 shutouts
• Racked up several conference and national accolades throughout the season
• Named the ACC Player of the Week (September 30, 2014), to the TopDrawerSoccer.com Team of the Week (September 30, 2014), College Sports Madness ACC Player of the Week (September 30, 2014), College Sports Madness National Defensive Women’s Soccer Player of the Week (September 30) and ESPNW Women’s Soccer Player of the Week Finalist (October 1, 2014) after recording shutouts against No. 2 Virginia Tech (2-0) and Wake Forest (1-0)
• Also named to the TopDrawSoccer.com Team of the Week for September 9, 2014, after a two-overtime 0-0 draw at No. 4 Stanford
• Earned a monogram

AS A FRESHMAN:

• Notre Dame Team Most Valuable Freshman (only third goalkeeper chosen for honor along with Jen Renola in 1993 and Erika Bohn in 2002)
• Started all 22 matches as rookie, one of eight ND freshmen since 1999 to start every match as a rookie (first since Mandy Laddish in 2010) — along with Morgan Andrews, first ND freshman duo to start every match of same rookie year since 1993 (Renola and Cindy Daws)
• Third ND goalkeeper to start every match of freshman season along with Renola (1993) and Michelle Lodyga (1989)
• Posted 13-8-1 record with 0.89 GAA, .800 save percentage and eight shutouts (six solo, two shared)
• Played 98 percent of team’s total minutes in goal (2,020:31), second-most in program history behind LaKeysia Beene (100 percent of minutes in 1997)
• Ranked second in ACC in total saves (80), tied for third in save percentage, sixth in shutouts and seventh in GAA — among league freshmen, ranked first in saves and save percentage, second in shutouts and GAA
• Earned first career shutout in Notre Dame adidas Invitational opener against Oakland (4-0), going distance while making four saves
• Earned win in team’s ACC debut at North Carolina State (3-1), with goal being the only one the ND defense allowed in a span of six-plus matches, covering 626:21 from Sept. 1-Oct. 3)
• Made five saves to anchor Notre Dame’s 1-0 win at #1 North Carolina
• First of four consecutive shutouts (two solo/two shared) and personal stretch of 487:29 without allowing a goal (part of a 521-minute span in which Little and fellow netminder Sarah Voigt held the opposition scoreless, Notre Dame’s longest spotless run in goal since Sept. 29-Oct. 20, 2006)
• Posted first career postseason shutout against Western Michigan in second round of NCAA Championship, thanks to two saves (1-0)
• Earned a monogram

NATIONAL TEAM HIGHLIGHTS:

• Selected for U.S. Under-20 Women’s National Team camp in February 2013, competing alongside Katie Naughton and Cari Roccaro
• Joined that same duo at another U-20 National Team camp in July 2013
• First participated in U.S. Women’s National Team Youth Goalkeeping Camp in 2012

ODP/CLUB HIGHLIGHTS:

• Member of Region III ODP Team from 2010-12
• Chosen for Region III ODP international touring team that competed in Barcelona, Spain, in spring 2011
• Spent club soccer career with TSC Hurricane, helping squad to semifinals of Elite Clubs National League (ECNL) U-18 National Championship in summer of 2013 in Colorado
• Previously helped powerful TSC Hurricane program to three Oklahoma state titles (2008-09, 2009-10, 2010-11), as well as 2010-11 Region III crown and regional runner-up finishes in 2008-09, 2009-10 and 2011-12
• In 2010-11, team finished as USYS National Runner-up and won USYS National League (U-16 Red)
• Finished third in USYS National League in 2009-10
• Won 2010-11 Disney Showcase and Sub-Regional Premier League
• Between 2010-11 Sub-Regional Premier League, USYS National League and Region III championship, team went combined 23-0 with remarkable plus-82 goal differential, not allowing single goal in Premier League (+40) or regional tournaments (+23) — Little appeared in 17 of those matches, and recorded 17 shutouts, while finishing the entire 2010-11 club season with 0.41 GAA
• 2011 USYS National Championship and Region III (southern regionals) Golden Glove recipient
• Member of 2011 USYS National Championship “Best 11” team
• Took part in 2011 ECNL/id2 National Camp
• Ranked No. 121 in the 2013 Top Drawer Soccer Girls IMG Academy 150 player ratings (four-star ranking; No. 5 in South Region).

PREP & PERSONAL:

• Graduated from Bishop Kelley High School in Tulsa, Okla.
• In three years at BKHS (did not play varsity soccer as freshman after transferring), piled up 32 shutouts and allowed just 23 goals in 51 career prep matches while team won three consecutive state titles (first in Class 5A, last two in Class 6A)
• As senior in 2012-13, allowed 13 goals in 18 matches, leading team to 17-0-1 record and second consecutive Class 6A championship (plus regional and district titles)
• As junior in 2011-12, played in all 17 matches, leading team to 17-0 record and Class 6A state title (plus regional and district crowns) — recorded 12 shutouts with 0.412 goals-against average (seven goals allowed) for BKHS team ranked among top 20 nationally in all major prep polls, including No. 3 spot by ESPN RISE
• As sophomore in 2010-11 (first varsity season), appeared in 16 of 17 matches (missed one due to ODP team commitment), helping Bishop Kelley to 16-1 record and Class 5A state title (along with regional and district championships) — collected 15 shutouts with miniscule 0.188 GAA (three goals allowed)
• During 2011 Class 5A state tournament, team did not allow a single goal, a first in Oklahoma high school girls’ soccer history
• Despite sitting out the 2009-10 season as a transfer, was part of Bishop Kelley squad that won Class 5A state, regional and district titles
• 2012 Gatorade Oklahoma Player of the Year
• Two-time NSCAA Oklahoma Player of the Year (2011, 2012)
• Two-time NSCAA High School All-America selection (2011, 2012)
• Two-time NSCAA High School all-region choice (2011, 2012)
• 2012 Tulsa World All-Metro Player of the Year
• Two-time Tulsa World All-Metro Team pick (2011, 2012)
• Two-time all-district selection (2011, 2012)
• Daughter of Melanie and Richard Little
• Has younger brother, David
• One of two Oklahomans (along with junior goalkeeper and Edmond resident Elyse Hight) on 2014 Notre Dame roster, the first two players from the Sooner State ever to suit up for the Fighting Irish
• Graduated with dual degrees from the Mendoza College of Business and College of Arts and Letters

Little’s Career Statistics