The University of Notre Dame women's soccer program welcomed 10 members of the Class of 2024 as part of Wednesday's National Signing Day.
The signing class, which consists of athletes from six states (Georgia, Michigan, North Carolina, Oregon, Minnesota, California), includes three goalkeepers, three defenders, one midfielder and three forwards.
“We have a really balanced class. We have a handful of players that can help us out tremendously right away and there are others that will contribute to our depth. Overall, we are very excited for the whole group as they are great people who are already buying into program and our culture. They want to work hard to push themselves but also push their teammates.” - Head Coach Nate Norman
Notre Dame Class of 2024
- Midfielder Eva Gaetino (Dexter, MI/'02 Michigan Hawks)
- Defender Caroline Gray (Johns Creek, GA/Concorde Fire)
- Forward Lucy Mitchell (Alpharetta, GA/Concorde Fire)
- Goalkeeper Ashley Naylor (Manhattan Beach, CA/LA Breakers Futbol Club)
- Forward Ellie Ospeck (Danville, CA/Mustang Soccer Club)
- Forward Paige Peltier (Hasting, MN/Minnesota Soccer Academy)
- Defender Victoria Romero (Claremont, CA/Legends FC Academy)
- Goalkeeper Kaylin Slattery (Cornelius, NC/Charlotte Soccer Academy)
- Defender Eva Wirtz (Atlanta, GA/Tophat DA)
- Goalkeeper Mary Votava (Tigard, OR/Portland Thorns)
EVA GAETINO
Midfielder, Dexter, MI ('02 Michigan Hawks
- Played club for the ‘02 Michigan Hawks under coaches Doug Landefeld, Michele Krzisnik, and Adil Salmoni
- Three-time ECNL Midwest Top-11 (2017-19)
- 2018 ECNL U16-18 National Camp with Manchester City and Olympique Lyonnais
- Two-time Adidas National Elite Soccer Program: Lyon, France and Portland, OR (2018-19)
- US Soccer Youth National Training Centers and Combine participant (2014-19)
- 2017 ECNL Club National Champion - Michigan Hawks
- 2017 U15 ECNL National Finals
- 2016 USYSA ODP National Camp and US Interregional Champion - Region II team
- Mom played soccer at Virginia Tech and brother played soccer at Bucknell
- Undecided on a major
QUOTABLES
“I chose Notre Dame because it's a very special place. It’s a close knit community with a tradition of academic and soccer excellence that will challenge me on and off the field everyday to be the best person and player I can be. It’s an honor to be a part of this amazing university community and women’s soccer program!” - Gaetino on Notre Dame
“Eva reclassified to join this class and is a very versatile player who has experience at center back, midfield and center forward. She is a very tall and athletic player who is great in the air. She is also a very technical player, who will fit into our possession style of play.” - Norman on Eva
CAROLINE GRAY
Defender, Johns Creek, GA (Concorde Fire)
- Two-time state champion (2017, 2019)
- Participated in the U16 US National Team Camp
- Played club with the Concorde Fire and coach Garvin Quamina
- Club teammates with fellow signee Lucy Mitchell
- ECNL Nationals qualifiers U14, U15, U17 - Semifinalists U14
- DA National qualifier U16
- ECNL Southeastern Conference Champions U17
- Named to ECNL Southeast All Conference Team U17
- Three-time Club Team Co-Captain (U15-U17)
- Leslie Gray (mom) played tennis at Georgia Tech
- Undecided on a major
QUOTEABLES
“I chose to come to Notre Dame because I loved the sense of community within the university, and I knew it would allow me to excel in both academics and on the field. It felt like the perfect fit the second I stepped on campus.” - Caroline on Notre Dame
“Caroline is a very versatile player, she can play as a center back or a center midfielder. Tall, great athlete and very good in the air. She can cover a ton of ground defensively and is also a fantastic 1v1 defender. She gives us another great athlete to compete with the talent that is in the ACC.” - Norman on Caroline
LUCY MITCHELL
Forward, Alpharetta, GA (Concorde Fire)
- Two-time Georgia state champion (2016, 2018)
- MVP of 2016 and 2018 state championship teams and games
- Holds two school records for most goals in a season and most points per game in a season (2016)
- One of four signees to play in the 2019 Allstate All-American Game
- 2019 GA All-State first team, GA All-State All-Star game MVP
- Two-time All-American (All-State and USA Today, 2019)
- Member of multiple US National Developmental teams
- USWNT 2017/18
- USWNT 2016/17
- ODP National Training Camp 2016
- Played club for Concorde Fire Soccer Club and coach Garvin Quamina
- 2018-19 ECNL SE Player of the Year and ECNL All-American Team
- Four-time ECNL Co-Team Captain (U15-18)
- Sister Abigail plays soccer at Clemson
- Undecided on a major
QUOTEABLES
“I didn’t grow up with a lot of knowledge about Notre Dame, but right when I stepped foot on campus, I knew it was something special. Immediately I knew this was a place I wanted to be and a place I would be lucky to call home. Not only do I enjoy the atmosphere, I admire the values and tradition that Notre Dame represents.” - Lucy on Notre Dame
“She is a very talented winger, very fast and good with running at people. She has an amazing work-rate and work ethic. We try to press a lot and she does a great job of that from the forward spot which will help our attack. She will give us another very exciting attacking player that will be very fun to watch.” - Norman on Lucy
ASHLEY NAYLOR
Goalkeeper, Manhattan Beach, CA (LA Breakers Futbol Club)
- Three-time team captain and guided her high school team to the state finals for the first time in school history
- Holds the school record for most shutouts in a season
- Named team MVP after her sophomore year
- Two-time first team All-Bay League
- Earned the Charlaine Deatherage Award (junior year) – highest ranking juniors with 4.0 GPA and above
- Played club for LA Breakers Futbol Club and coaches Jason Kelly and Mike Littman
- Scott (Dad) played tennis at UC San Diego
- Undecided on a major
QUOTEABLES
“The moment I walked onto Notre Dame’s campus it felt like home. After hearing more and more about their successful program, I knew this was where I was meant to be. I am thrilled to be pursuing my athletic and academic career at UND and can’t wait to push myself both on the soccer field and in the classroom. I am incredibly eager for this opportunity and can’t wait to be part of the Irish family!” - Ashley on Notre Dame
“She is a tall and athletic goalkeeper. Great shot-stopper and very good playing balls in the air. She is also very aggressive which will help when coming out on crosses. We believe Ashley is a very good keeper now, but has a ton of potential as well.” - Norman on Ashley
ELLIE OSPECK
Forward, Danville, CA (Mustang Soccer Club)
- One of four signees to play in the 2019 Allstate All-American Game
- 2019 CIF North Coast Section champions and 2018 CIF North Coast Section finalist
- Two-time NEPS All-Tournament First Team/Best XI (2018-19)
- 2019 USA Today ALL-USA second team
- Three-time TDS All-State and All-Region first team (2017-19)
- Three-time East Bay Athletic League All-Conference first team
- CIF North Coast Section (NCS): 1st Team (2017, 2018, 2019)
- CIF North Coast Section (NCS) Freshman of the Year 2017
- U.S. Soccer Training Center selection (2013-2017)
- Played club for Mustang Soccer Club and head coach Mike Kelley
- 2018 and 2019 ECNL Northwest All-Conference first team
- Erin (sister) is currently a junior on the soccer team at Notre Dame and Matt (Dad) ran track at Case Western Reserve
- Intends to major in business
QUOTEABLES
“I chose Notre Dame because I loved the overwhelming sense of tradition, service and spirit throughout it’s community along with the top notch academics and sport programs!” - Ellie on Notre Dame
“She is an extremely fast and athletic forward and can play as the center forward or the winger. Very good at running at people and can also make runs behind people without the ball. That will be helpful to get on the end of crosses and she has a tireless work rate. She seems to never tire and will be another forward that will help us be able to apply a lot of pressure defensively to opponents’ backlines.” - Norman on Ellie
PAIGE PELTIER
Forward, Hastings, MN (Minnesota Soccer Academy)
- One of four signees to play in the 2019 Allstate All-American Game
- Three-time All-Conference and All-State honoree (2016, 2018-19)
- Esmark All-American 2016 and Allstate All-American 2018
- USA Today preseason All-USA team 2019
- Top Drawer High School All-Region team 2018
- Class AA Ms. Soccer Minnesota-2019
- Star Tribune All-Metro Team-2019
- Pioneer Press Soccer Player of the Year-2019
- MSHSL State Tournament team 2019
- Played club soccer for the Minnesota Soccer Academy and coach Danny Storlien
- Gothia Cup-Puma 17u Elite Division Champions 2019
- Led the tournament with 6 goals and 2 assists
- ECNL Quarterfinalists 3 years in a row
- Dan Peltier (Dad) was an All-American baseball player at Notre Dame and currently holds the career batting average title
- Amy Peltier (mom) was a swimmer at Notre Dame
- Intends to major in business
QUOTEABLES
“For a long time Notre Dame has been a special place to me. When I was little, I loved to go to football games, where I experienced the Notre Dame family and the traditions and spirit of the school. As I got older, I fell in love with the Basilica, the grotto, the lakes and the feeling I had every time I stepped on campus. Notre Dame embodies everything that is important to me: academics, athletics and spirituality. Playing soccer for coaches who exemplify the values of Notre Dame and who look not only to win, but also to develop each player personally completed my decision to attend Notre Dame.” - Paige on Notre Dame
“She is a really talented target forward and was named Ms. Soccer Minnesota this year. Really good at holding balls up and also has the ability to turn and run at people. She is also great on crosses which helps out style of play as the target forward and in our attacking play.” - Norman on Paige
VICTORIA ROMERO
Defender, Claremont, CA (Legends FC Academy)
- 2017 League Championship (first in school history)
- 2017 All-League first team
- Coaches Award from coach Cle Kooiman
- Played club with Legends FC Academy with Coaches Kevin Boyd and Josh Hodges
- Co-Captain U19 Legends FC Academy
- 2019 Spain International Friendlies versus Atletico Madrid, Atletico Bilbao & Real Sociedad
- 2017 US Youth Soccer National Championship finalists
- U16/17 two-year participant Cal South ODP
- Laura (Mom) played volleyball and dad RJ played soccer at Claremont McKenna College
- Undecided on a major
QUOTEABLES
“Notre Dame has outstanding academics as well as an elite athletic program. I’m looking forward to playing for the women’s soccer team because the coaches and players have created such a wonderful team environment.” - Victoria on Notre Dame
“She is an outside back that is a very good 1-v-1 defender. She is also a good athlete, serves a great ball forward and also has the ability to take players on in wide areas. She really possesses all the attributes we look for in our outside backs.” - Norman on Victoria
KAYLIN SLATTERY
Goalkeeper, Cornelius, NC (Charlotte Soccer Academy)
- Played club for Charlotte Soccer Academy and coach Ian Dennis, Brian Moore and Michael Winstone
- North Carolina US Youth Soccer State Cup champions in 2015
- Selected to the Cum Laude Society, representing the top 10% of the class
- Member of Mu Alpha Theta Mathematics National Honor Society, Rho Kappa Social Studies National Honor Society, National English Honor Society and National Spanish Honor Society
- Mick (Dad) graduated from Notre Dame in 1990
- Intends to major in business
QUOTEABLES
“I chose Notre Dame for the unparalleled combination of competition on the field and in the classroom. The opportunity to compete in the ACC while pursuing a degree from a prestigious university like Notre Dame is a dream come true.” - Kaylin on Notre Dame
“She is really, really good with her feet and we like to start plays out of the back with our goalies. She can connect well out of the back and that will help us a lot. She is also a great athlete, which makes her very quick off her line and a very good shot-stopper.” - Norman on Kaylin
EVA WIRTZ
Defender, Atlanta, GA (Tophat DA)
- 2018 Georgia state champion and state runner-up in 2017
- Two-time All-State and All-Region selection
- Named defensive MVP in both her sophomore and junior seasons
- Member of the Olympic Development program from 2013-17 and was in the 2017 ODP Region Pool
- Played club with Tophat DA with coach Troy Gardner
- Tophat was a ECNL national qualifier in 2018
- Dan (Dad) played baseball at Northern Iowa and Josie (sister) currently runs track and cross country at Clemson
- Undecided on a major
QUOTEABLES
“I grew up around Notre Dame graduates, and I have always heard about how great the school is. I never truly understood what they meant until the first time I visited Notre Dame. I immediately knew that this was the school that I wanted to go to and call home for the next 4 years. I was so impressed by the tradition, values, and service at Notre Dame as well as the unbeatable education while playing soccer at the highest level. I also loved the entire coaching staff and all of the people that I met at Notre Dame, making it the best decision for me.” - Eva on Notre Dame
“She can play anywhere on the back line. She is a tall and athletic defender, very good at playing out of the back and dribbling into pockets of space to connect with the midfielders. She not only possesses the ability to be a great 1v1 defender but her calmness and distribution out of the back will help us as we set play from our back line.” - Norman on Eva
MARY VOTAVA
Goalkeeper, Tigard, OR (Portland Thorns)
- Back-to-back Oregon state champion (2017-18),
- Jesuit HS is playing in the championship game again next week
- 2019 Team Captain
- One of four signees to play in the 2019 Allstate All-American Game
- 2019-20 USA Today All-USA Preseason Girls Soccer Team
- 2018 Top Drawer Soccer All-Region team
- 2017 & 2018 Oregon All-State team selection
- Plays club for Portland Thorns and coach Laura Schott
- Surf Cup back-to-back champions: CUO ECNL – White/Black divisions
- Sister Laura ran track and cross country at St. Olaf College in Minnesota
- Intends to major in Pre-Med
QUOTEABLES
“Simply, it is the school of my dreams and there is nowhere else like it.” - Mary on Notre Dame
“She is a very good shot-stopper as well. She plays a very clean game and does not have many weaknesses at all. She has very good technique in everything she does, and consistently seems to come up with big time saves every time we watch her play.” - Norman on Mary