July 19, 2018
With the 2018 Penn State women's soccer season slowly approaching, GoPSUsports.com is asking each member of the 2018 signing class a few questions in order to get to know them better. We are continuing the series with goalkeeper Katherine Asman.
A native of Roswell, Georgia, Asman attended Roswell High School and played club soccer for the NASA Tophat Soccer Club. While at Penn State, Asman plans to major in business.
GoPSU: You were at WakeMed Soccer Park watching Penn State win the national title in 2015, what was that experience like?
KA: Being there when the team won its national title in 2015 was such a special experience. For me it was this reminder of why I chose this program. Not only was it an opportunity to see the type of soccer Penn State played in a highly competitive environment I was able to see the way the team celebrated every victory together.
From beating Rutgers in the semi-final game to seeing them score the goal in the national championship, and then to hear the final whistle declaring Penn State the 2015 Women's Soccer National Champions was a special sight.
To witness their celebrations it was like every player on and off the field scored the goals, every player made the tackle, and every player was in that game one way or another. Being able to witness it was this realization that I wanted to have that feeling of winning a national championship and I picked the right program to achieve that goal.
GoPSU: You plan to major in business, why did you pick that major?
KA: So I was stuck between the decision to major in political science or business, but I chose business because it allows me such a wide variety of options. As of now, my plan is to go to law school after I receive my bachelor's degree, but although this has been a dream of mine since I finished my first debate in AP Government as a freshman I realize it may change.
Business allows me to still go to law school as well as gives me a chance to have something different under my belt than most law school students who choose to major in political science or pre-law.
GoPSU: When did you know that you were going to attend Penn State?
KA: I committed around April of my freshman year of high school, which seems so crazy to choose the college you will be attending for four years so young and so inexperienced, but after coming here and meeting the coaching staff I knew this is where I wanted to go. It was funny after I said bye to the coaches and was walking back to my car with my mom we got in the car and I took a deep breath and she asked me "so what do you think?" my response was "this is where I am going to go to college and where I want to play soccer."
Now keep in mind I still had some other schools I had to visit but this program is like no other in country. The way the coaches work together and the way they dedicate themselves to not only this team's success but your individual success is amazing. This is not the type of program where they are just treat you like royalty and then when you commit its like "okay I'll talk to you again in six months." No, this program cares about you as not only a soccer player but as a person and as a student.
They are there for you through your ups and downs, and they are there for you before you even step foot on this campus helping you when you need someone to vent to or need advice. They aren't just preparing you to win national championships, they are preparing you to be the most successful version of yourself once you graduate.
GoPSU: What is one thing fans should know about Katherine Asman?
KA: When I was younger, I was always super independent and curious. Sometimes that helped me to stand out in a positive way, and other times that me got stuck in some uncomfortable situations. One day I went to work with my mom and she works at the world headquarters for Coke, so pretty professional building.
To me it was a wonderful world of shiny things and big revolving doors I wanted to run through by myself. We were on our way out and my mom was boasting about how well I did today, from my good manners to being aware of others and respecting the building, so I guess maybe I just thought like hey I've been good all day why not go out with a big bang to just erase all those good things my mom was saying about me. I ran ahead of my mom and my brother and headed straight to the big revolving doors that laid ahead of me and I thought to myself "I got this just step in and walk." Listen, I got the first part right.
I stepped halfway in and then freaked out and froze and although I froze, the motion of the revolving door did not. I tried to escape and I got every body part out of harm's way except for the big oval shaped thing that sits on my shoulders. So you know how everyone says they are a little messed up because their parents dropped them on the head as a kid, well mine is the same idea except I got my head stuck in a revolving door as a kid. Just know that's the full 100% reason why I'm a little different than most.
GoPSU: What are you most looking forward to this upcoming season?
KA: I am most looking forward to traveling with the team. I am super excited to get to travel with everyone and experience what it is like. I have never really traveled in a team environment so it is something new and exciting and I think for me it will help me become closer with some of the other people on the team.
I also can't wait to travel to the different places and experience the away game environment. I have come on visits and been able to witness the home game environment for the team but never an away game environment and that is extremely exciting to me.