Ella Kalailieff '24 Recruiting Profile

My name is Ella Kalailieff, I have the desire to play soccer at the college/university level while receiving a degree in Criminal Justice or Psychology. I understand playing a sport while receiving a degree at the post-secondary level is extremely time consuming and difficult. I also understand that most athletes in my age group have the same goal as I do. Although most athletes have a ‘want’ to play their sport at the next level, very few have the work ethic and determination to push themselves hard enough. That is where I believe I am set apart from the pack. I have confidence in my athletic and academic ability, as well as my work ethic. 

I have been playing soccer since the age of three, I started playing goalie at age 8. I had practices and games upwards of five times a week. At age 8 I also started training with two goalkeeper coaches, Gerry D’Angelo and Liam Martin. My first team was Port Colborne Storm Travel. During my 5 year stint on the team, I collected upwards of 20 shutouts, 2 seasons with records 10-1 or better, 6 penalty saves, 2 tournament championships and a League Championship. At the age of 12, I decided to move on, eventually being invited to the Niagara Regional Team tryouts, and beating out 9 other goalies for the starting position. In my first season with the team I was training with James Kryger. My first season was exceptional, I recorded 9 shutouts, a 14-2 record, 3 tournament championships, a tournament championship in penalty kicks saving 4 out of 6, and a Ontario Cup Finals appearance falling just short of a championship.  The next season was cut short due to COVID-19, but I was still persistent with my training individually. The 2021-2022 season my team was moved up a league to the OPDL league. This past summer I started training with my current goalkeeper coach, Frans Diaz Romero, while also recording 2 shutouts and a penalty kick save. Needing a change of scenery this past fall, I transferred to Niagara International FC and they signed me immediately. I am currently coached by Andre Pacheo and Clayton Rosario on a U18 team as a fifteen year old as we prepare for our showcase tournaments this coming summer. I know my many years of training have contributed to the style of play I now possess. I would describe my style of play as aggressive, but I know when not to be. I often come off my line and challenge shooters, but I understand when to stay back. My strengths are my angles, positioning and footwork. I know I can always get better, and I am constantly working to improve my skills.  

I have always been exceptionally proud of my academic achievements, and school has always been just as important as soccer is to me. Maintaining a high average through both elementary school and highschool has been a major goal of mine.  Continuing to receive these grades through University/College is a bar I will continue to hold for myself. As a 3 year old in Junior Kindergarten, my reading level was a 27 which is the average reading level for a 4th grader. In 2015 after taking the EQAO test, I tested above the provincial standard In all 3 subjects. After continuing to be grade levels above my age, I was tested for giftedness in the 4th grade in 2016. I tested in the 87th percentile which is an 87% or a letter grade of an A-. During the 5th and 6th grade every year Ontario students had to complete a DRA (designated reading assignment) . I was tested on the 8th grade level in both 5th and 6th grade. . I also won speech competition at my school in various years, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2019, and 2020. In my graduating year in 2020, I graduated with the Principals Award which is the highest academic average overall. In my freshman year of highschool, I finished the two semesters with a combined average of a 91, and finished top of my class in 3 subjects. As I have gotten older, work has gotten harder, but my effort level remains the same which is what allows me to do so well in school. Post-secondary, I will keep the same effort level and grades until I finish university/college.

Despite my academic averages, and my athletic skills, my work ethic and devotion is truly what has allowed me to gain as many skills as I could. I describe my work ethic, as unique as I feel not many other athletes share it with me. I am always the first one on the field, and last one off the field. I take losing to heart, and I learn from the experience and use my mistakes as motivation and fuel. I am a natural born leader, I have captained a variety of teams in volleyball, basketball and soccer to championships. I am consistently trying to display sportsmanship as a captain, I do not let my emotions get to me, I remain calm no matter the scenario, and I have the utmost respect for my teammates, myself, officials and coaches.  Most of all, I am extremely competitive, I love to win. But I understand the road to success is filled with failure. I persevere through that failure, and I try again for success. I understand mistakes happen and I will never blame my teammates for them. I instead try to explain to them what they could do differently. Training, to me, is more important than actual games. During practice I envision game scenarios, I give 110% and I am always putting forth my absolute best effort. I practice, how I play. I am consistently doing the best I can. Soccer is everything to me on and off the field. I continue to work on my skills individually in the Gym, or at home with simple reflex drills. I will do the most to improve out of anyone on the team. I am confident in my skills and my work ethic that I can be an asset to any team, I bring to the table devotion, dedication, initiative, and mental discipline. I try to improve and learn as much as I possibly can, because I feel as though I have the potential to go very far in my sport. Besides the talent I inherited, every skill, move, dive, style and kick has been meticulously developed through years of hardwork and dedication, and I will continue to develop these skills.  I understand chasing a diploma and playing a sport in university/college will be extremely time consuming. I feel that I have displayed my time management skills while working a part time job, playing soccer, and playing basketball 6 times a week. Although there are still many qualities I am working on I feel as though I truly display the attitude of a champion.