Kennesaw State University Athletics

Each week the Kennesaw State Sports Information Department will feature a student-athlete to profile in a fun way in order for fans to get know their favorite players. This week, junior Whitney Keller spent a few minutes with KSU's All-Conference soccer star Caitlin Dingle.

Dingle is a senior forward for the Owls who transferred to Kennesaw State from the University of Georgia after her freshman season. The Rockdale, Ga. native scored a career-high 17 goals in 2007, when she was a three-time Atlantic Sun Conference Player-of-the-Week, and was named the A-Sun Women's Soccer Championship Tournament Most Valuable Player.

OMW How did you get started in soccer?
There was a boy that I liked in elementary school that played, Parker, and I begged my mom to let me go out so I could play also. My brothers both played, but my parents thought I would get hurt so I was never allowed to participate. Because of this boy I was persistent and when they finally gave in and signed me up I played so hard to prove that I could handle it and I ended up being pretty good for my age. I fell in love and from there I've never really stopped playing.

OMW What is your favorite place that you have traveled to?
Last December, five of my teammates at the time (Sarah Marek, Sara Clapham, Bridget Gaughan, and Staci Pugh) all took a month-long trip to New Zealand to visit Sara. It was so unbelievably beautiful and fun. It's the adventure capital of the world, so we did it all, from white water rafting, skydiving, bunjee jumping and even zorbing. We saw both the north island and the south island and had a blast.  I think the fact that I was with four of my best friends helped make it a really special trip.

OMW Who is the most played singer/band on your iPod?
Hands-down, Dave Matthews Band. I see this concert every summer - such a good time.

OMW What is your favorite food?
Cheese Pizza!  I could eat it any time of day - especially if it was a Hot-n-Ready.

OMW What is one of your favorite memories playing soccer?
The Alabama game my junior year.  We went down 2-0 in the first half, lost a player to a red card and then somehow managed to work our way back into the game, winning 3-2. I scored two goals in that game and it felt great. Coach King was hoarse from screaming and everyone was so full of excitement. It really was one of those games that makes you realize why you love to play, the thrill of giving everything you have against all odds and being able to come out on top is really tremendous.

OMW Do you have any superstitions you do before or after a game?
Not really, I think every soccer player ties their cleats a certain way and I don't like to put my shinguards on until right before we play, but that's just for comfort. I really do feel like if I have a bad warm-up when it comes to shooting (we do a crossing and shooting drill that for some reason I just don't like) that I play really well in the game, which is kind of funny.

OMW Where do you plan to go for the holidays?
I'm going home! My parents live in Lexington, Kentucky and with our games all played on the weekends it's hard to find a good time to get back home. Needless to say, it's been a while.

OMW What movie have you watched a million times?
Either Pretty Woman or My Best Friend's Wedding ... I love Julia Roberts

OMW Who has been the most inspirational person for you?
My grandmother is a pretty amazing woman. She's probably the strongest person I know. I have a family of wacky emotional nutcases (and I mean that in the best, most loving way possible!) and she is the rock that holds us all up somehow.