For alumna Katie Schoepfer, all roads lead back to Happy Valley.
From former player to now head coach of the United States U-15 National Team, Schoepfer is shaping the next generation of women’s soccer players. Throughout her career, she has never forgotten the impact her coaches at Penn State had on her.
Schoepfer made the trip back to State College for this year’s alumni game, and for the former forward, coming back to State College felt like coming home.
“This is a really special place to me,” she said.
Being at Jeffrey Field cheering on the Nittany Lions alongside old teammates is more than just a long-awaited reunion.
“It’s always nice coming back here and seeing the girls play and continuing the legacy of winning and traditions, which is fun for us as alumni to look back and see the team being really successful.”
Schoepfer was a standout athlete for the women’s soccer team. She netted 48 goals during her collegiate career and she earned numerous accolades, including being a three-time All Big Ten honoree, a two-time NSCAA All-American, a first-team NSCAA Scholar All-American and Big Ten Offensive Player Of The Year in 2009.
Schoepfer cites a lot of her success to coaches Erica Dambach and Ann Cook for shaping her not only into a better athlete on the field, but a better person off the field. Her aspiration to do the same in her job today is a direct nod to the coaches who took a chance on her.
“I think they saw something in me that I didn’t necessarily see in myself yet,” she said. “They really pushed me to grow as a person and as a player. That’s my goal. I want to be able to inspire, motivate and help the next generation of soccer players become what they’re going to be, not just as soccer players but as people.”
After graduation, Schoepfer entered the next stage of her career and got the opportunity to play professionally for the team she grew up loving.
“I grew up in Connecticut, and I watched the Boston Breakers play in the WSA. That was my team I always cheered for,” she said. “It was a full circle moment for me when I was able to play for the Breakers, and then I was captain for the Breakers.”
Schoepfer then went on to play on an even bigger stage, by representing the United States on the U-23 Women’s National Team.
“I think you always learn something when you…
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