2012 (Junior): Named first team All-Ohio Valley Conference for the second time in her career after reemerging as one of the most feared goal scorers in the league … buried a program-record seven goals and dished out two assists on the year, setting team records for single-season shots (62) and career goals (15) in the process … named OVC Offensive Player of the Week twice during the season, coming up especially huge in EKU’s come-from-behind win over in-state rival Morehead State on Sept. 23, scoring two goals in the final eight minutes of play to lead the Colonels to an improbable 2-1 victory … was also named OVC Offensive Player of the Week on Oct. 9 after recording the game-winning goal with less than 10 minutes to play in regulation against then-first place Jacksonville State on Oct. 6 and assisting Mikala Ferguson on the game-winning score versus Tennessee Tech on Oct. 8 … in all, three of her seven goals in 2012 were game-winners.
2011 (Sophomore): Appeared in 18 games for the Colonels, starting 14 of them … continued to be an offensive force up front as she led EKU on the season with 37 shots and two assists … also scored a pair of goals on the year … notched an assist in EKU’s 4-0 win over UNC Asheville (Sept. 2) and then recorded the game-winning assist to Stephany Ellison in the 84th minute of the Colonels’ 1-0 victory over in-state and Ohio Valley Conference rival Morehead State (Sept. 23) … that win was EKU’s first-ever over Morehead State and it was Morehead State’s first regular season conference loss in two years … first goal of the season came against OVC foe Tennessee Tech (Sept. 30) … then scored the game-tying goal with five minutes left in regulation in a 1-1 draw against Longwood (Oct. 21) … recorded a season-high four shots on goal in the OVC regular season finale against Murray State (Oct. 30).
2010 (Freshman): Started all 18 games in which she appeared … named a first team All-Ohio Valley Conference forward and led EKU with a program-record six goals, three of which were game-winners … exploded onto the OVC scene by scoring consecutive game-winners against defending OVC Tournament champion Murray State (Sept. 24) and defending OVC regular season champion UT Martin (Sept. 26) in one weekend … for her efforts, the rookie offensive sparkplug was named the OVC Offensive Player of the Week and became the first Colonel ever to receive national attention when the website CollegeSoccer360.com named her a National Primetime Performer of the Week … also set single-season program records for points (12) and shots (40).
High School and/or Club Experience: A three-time first team all-conference selection, a three-time first team all-city selection, a two-time team MVP and the school’s career record-holder for career goals (48) and goals in a game (four) … was also a three-time academic all-conference selection, a three-time academic all-city selection and, in 2009, was named academic all-state … plays club soccer for the Cincinnati United Premier … her team was the Ohio South state champions from 2007-09, the Vegas Showcase Champions in 2007 and the Region III Showcase champions from 2008-09.
Personal: Born Nov. 5, 1991 … daughter of Dave and Connie Donnelly … her brother, Kevin, won a Division II soccer national championship at Northern Kentucky University in 2010 ... majoring in elementary education.
Get to Know Nikki Donnelly ...
One thing people probably don’t know about her: She has brachydactyly in her thumbs
Her best non-soccer Olympic sport would be: Softball, because she’s always been better at softball then she is soccer
Her favorite place to eat in Richmond: Casa Fiesta
Her favorite song, currently: “Itty Bitty Piggy” by Nicki Minaj
Her favorite social media forum: Instagram, because she likes looking at peoples’ pictures
One place in America she would like to road trip to: California, because she would get to travel across the country and see Cali, which she has always wanted to do
Her favorite non-sport outdoor activity: Going to the pool
Items on her bucket list: Visit Ireland, get the courage to skydive and swim with dolphins
Her professional goals: Be an amazing elementary school teacher and be named Teacher of the Year
