As a Junior (2015): As a defensive leader on the team, Fitzgerald and the defense held six opponents scoreless, four of which came in conference play... On Oct. 18 she made a penalty kick to clinch the win for the Lady Toppers against Charlotte, scoring her first career goal... She was one of only two Lady Toppers to take a penalty kick this season... She started and played in 16 games and played the fourth most minutes of any one on the team.
As a Sophomore (2014): Fitzgerald was the most relied on sophomore logging 1,144 minutes, the most of any in her class… Got the starting nod in 16 of the 18 games she played in… Helped hold seven opponents scoreless as a defender… Helped the defense keep nine opponents with five or less shots on goal.
As a Freshman (2013): Fitzgerald played an integral role on WKU's backline as a freshman, particularly late in the season as she started in all of WKU's last seven games...She was one of four Lady Topper rookies to play more than 1,000 minutes and appeared in 20 contests, nine of which were starts...Developed into a consistent starter at center back and provided valuable minutes, helping pitch shutouts in four of her nine starts...Fitzgerald played her strongest game of the season in the Sun Belt Conference Tournament Semifinals against Texas State, playing all 90 minutes and helping limit the Bobcats to two shots on goal...She fired one shot on the season, which came versus Indiana State on Sept. 1.
High School: Olivia Fitzgerald, a 5'6" defender, won two Indiana State Championships in 2008 and 2009 with her club team, Carmel United. In 2010, her Carmel team appeared in the Indiana State Cup finals for a third consecutive year while also finishing second in the 2010 MRL Championship. Promoted after winning the ECNL "B" Flight national title in 2011, Olivia's club team currently competes in the ECNL "A" Flight. Fitzgerald was also a three-year letter-winner for Carmel High School, winning the MIC Conference Championship each year from 2009 to 2012 and the State Championship in 2011. The 2011 squad was ranked number one in the nation by ESPN. Fitzgerald was an All-Conference selection and second team All-State selection in 2012. Olivia comes from a notable athletic family. Her grandfather, Patrick Fitzgerald, played basketball at Notre Dame while grandfather Lloyd Jacobs played football at USC, including participation in two Rose Bowls.
Neidell on Fitzgerald: "Olivia is a very consistent and steady defender," said Neidell. "She is strong on the ball, great in the air, and reads the game in front of her very well. Olivia will be an important piece of the puzzle in the Lady Topper backline for the next four years. Olivia is also an engaging and thoughtful individual and is the kind of person that lights up a room as soon as she enters it. Both on and off the field, she is a class act who will be a great addition to the Hilltopper athletic family."