“Mallory Gilley can be one of the best goalies in the conference, and she really has the potential to be a legend in our program,” says IU Columbus Director of Soccer Kevin Nolan. “Mal is one of the top talents around.”
While the Columbus North graduate joined IU Columbus last year as a freshman, and she practiced with the team, she was ineligible for academic reasons. “I didn’t have the best grades or study habits in high school,” Gilley says. “I thought that if I just played soccer really well, that’s all I needed to do. But I learned my lesson!”
Gilley turned her attention to the classroom, worked hard at the study tables and tutoring center, and even changed her major to psychology—she credits instructor Kathy Compton for engaging and inspiring her. “Right now, I’m getting all A’s! I love college,” she says. Coach Nolan also congratulates Gilley for how hard she’s worked to turn things around in the classroom and earn her eligibility.
“Columbus is so welcoming and there’s a great soccer environment,” she says. “I now consider it my hometown and wouldn’t want to go anywhere else.”
As for Crimson Pride soccer, she likes how well the team is organized, gets along great with her teammates, and says it feels like Christmas when they get new Crimson Pride gear. When asked about her success on the field, she says simply, “I don’t like the ball going into the net!”
While she’s known for throwing herself around, and being very aggressive, rough and tumble, she says she does get scared (though her adrenaline typically masks the fear).
“It’s easy to focus on the one ball that went through my hands,” Gilley says, “so instead I try to focus on the 10 that I stopped.”
Nolan adds, “For Mallory, the ceiling on her ability is as high as she wants it to be.”
Find Gilley’s stats and bio, as well as up-to-date gameday information, on the Crimson Pride athletics website.