Werremeyer Ready as K-State Begins Big 12 Play
Sep 22, 2022 | Soccer, Sports Extra
By: D. Scott Fritchen
Kansas State goalkeeper Alaina Werremeyer has had a busy couple of weeks. First, she shutout Yale on September 9. Then she shutout Colorado State last Thursday. Then she posted a scoreless first half at South Dakota State on Sunday. Nobody scored against her for a total of 295 minutes and 34 seconds. Nobody. That's a fact. And that's a crazy fact.
"I never see it as minutes, you know?" she says. "It's game by game. So if we can string together more than two-and-a-half games that are scoreless, that's exciting for me."
Werremeyer, a junior, appears to be a perfectionist. She's also among the most humble persons you'll ever meet. She deflects praise like she deflects soccer balls. She smiles and dodges compliments, directing them toward her teammates. K-State head coach Mike Dibbini calls her a "big presence." Goalkeeper coach Matt Smith says his confidence in her "couldn't be higher." And when K-State, 4-4-1, faces Iowa State, 3-3-2, in Thursday's 6 p.m. meeting at Cyclone Sports Complex in Ames, Iowa, Werremeyer's presence will put her into the K-State record books.
Against Iowa State, she will reach 33 career matches in goal — a K-State record. She will also tie Miranda Larkin (2016-17) by starting in 32 career games. Currently, Werremeyer is second in career minutes in goal — 2,906 minutes – and needs just 16 minutes and three seconds in goal against the Cyclones to pass Larkin in that category. Currently, she is second in K-State history with 157 career saves. She is also second with nine career wins and nine career shutouts.
"It's just my job," she says, referring to keeping opponents scoreless. "I wouldn't call it incredible, to be honest. It's just a part of my job 100% but it's not just me. That comes from our backline and from everyone on the field doing the work and pressing and attacking third and locking down in our defensive third.
"They make my job really easy."
Werremeyer, a native of Blue Springs, Missouri, is among the most prolific goalkeepers in K-State history.
And she isn't finished.
"The biggest thing that I've seen in her is her improvement in footwork efficiency," Smith says. "That's a big piece for me. It's always something you can think about as a goalkeeper, but when you keep that in the front of your mind, you're not only going to be able to extend your range, but also have body conservation. I think she's gotten a lot more efficient with her feet.
"Her bravery in the air has really helped, whether it's punching balls or receiving crosses. That's really stepped up. You look at her and she makes the goal look small anyway. Instead of relying on your size, use your size. There's a difference between the two."
Funny thing. Smith joined K-State this season after serving as an assistant coach for five years at Baylor. Last season, he watched as Werremeyer shut out the Bears and set the school record for saves in a match with 13. So he entered his stint with the Wildcats fully aware of Werremeyer's capabilities.
As the Big 12 season begins, Smith says, "She's proven she can do it. There's no reason to think we won't see better from her."
Werremeyer has studied many of the greats — Gigi Bouffant, Jimmy Nielsen and Hope Solo.
"I always wanted to be in the goal," she says. "I was always pretty tall and I decided pretty early that I didn't like to run."
It started when she was 4 and played soccer at the YMCA. She wanted to be the goalie. Her passion rolled through high school. She earned Missouri Soccer Coaches Association Girls Class 4 All-State Second Team honors one year and First Team honors another year. Twice she was named the 2019 Suburban Big 7 Goalkeeper of the Year.
She also helped her FC Kansas City club team to a national runner-up finish at the 2018 U.S. Youth Soccer 17U Girls National Championship. She says that she couldn't have done it without the support of her parents, Brent and Tonya, who took her to play soccer in half of the states in the continental U.S.
"I wouldn't be at this level if it wasn't for the weekend soccer trips and spending 24 hours in the car or the financial investment," Werremeyer says. "Just knowing my parents are there and they want me to succeed, they'll come to Manhattan if I'm on the field or on the bench. They want me to be happy playing soccer."
Werremeyer began her run toward the K-State record books pretty early. She was a freshman. Veteran goalie Rachel Harris was injured. Werremeyer stepped in. She became the first K-State freshman to earn a win in a 3-0 win over Oklahoma. She became the first freshman to earn a shutout. She played a team-high 787:47 in frame with eight starts in nine matches.
Last season, her 88 saves were third most in K-State history and led the Big 12 Conference. She also led the Big 12 with 5.87 saves per game.
"You ask any striker why they play and it's because they love to score," Werremeyer says. "I love making saves and I love what it does for our team and how it makes everyone feel on the field. Yeah, it's a huge rush."
What has she learned most about herself?
"I've learned that you can always improve," she says. "There's always more to learn about the game. The game is ever-changing. There's always going to be someone who knows the game better and understands the opponent more, so just be a sponge and soak everything in."
She likely won't allow any of her individual feats to soak in during the Big 12 season. But the marks will accompany her every step. And her parents will be there cheering her on. And her coaches. And her teammates. And her fans.
It all starts at Iowa State on Thursday.
"It's go time," she says. "It's time to lock in. There's a lot that this program hasn't accomplished yet. We're hungry and excited to get there."
For now, it's the only goal that matters.
Kansas State goalkeeper Alaina Werremeyer has had a busy couple of weeks. First, she shutout Yale on September 9. Then she shutout Colorado State last Thursday. Then she posted a scoreless first half at South Dakota State on Sunday. Nobody scored against her for a total of 295 minutes and 34 seconds. Nobody. That's a fact. And that's a crazy fact.
"I never see it as minutes, you know?" she says. "It's game by game. So if we can string together more than two-and-a-half games that are scoreless, that's exciting for me."
Werremeyer, a junior, appears to be a perfectionist. She's also among the most humble persons you'll ever meet. She deflects praise like she deflects soccer balls. She smiles and dodges compliments, directing them toward her teammates. K-State head coach Mike Dibbini calls her a "big presence." Goalkeeper coach Matt Smith says his confidence in her "couldn't be higher." And when K-State, 4-4-1, faces Iowa State, 3-3-2, in Thursday's 6 p.m. meeting at Cyclone Sports Complex in Ames, Iowa, Werremeyer's presence will put her into the K-State record books.
Against Iowa State, she will reach 33 career matches in goal — a K-State record. She will also tie Miranda Larkin (2016-17) by starting in 32 career games. Currently, Werremeyer is second in career minutes in goal — 2,906 minutes – and needs just 16 minutes and three seconds in goal against the Cyclones to pass Larkin in that category. Currently, she is second in K-State history with 157 career saves. She is also second with nine career wins and nine career shutouts.
"It's just my job," she says, referring to keeping opponents scoreless. "I wouldn't call it incredible, to be honest. It's just a part of my job 100% but it's not just me. That comes from our backline and from everyone on the field doing the work and pressing and attacking third and locking down in our defensive third.
"They make my job really easy."
Werremeyer, a native of Blue Springs, Missouri, is among the most prolific goalkeepers in K-State history.
And she isn't finished.
"The biggest thing that I've seen in her is her improvement in footwork efficiency," Smith says. "That's a big piece for me. It's always something you can think about as a goalkeeper, but when you keep that in the front of your mind, you're not only going to be able to extend your range, but also have body conservation. I think she's gotten a lot more efficient with her feet.
"Her bravery in the air has really helped, whether it's punching balls or receiving crosses. That's really stepped up. You look at her and she makes the goal look small anyway. Instead of relying on your size, use your size. There's a difference between the two."
Funny thing. Smith joined K-State this season after serving as an assistant coach for five years at Baylor. Last season, he watched as Werremeyer shut out the Bears and set the school record for saves in a match with 13. So he entered his stint with the Wildcats fully aware of Werremeyer's capabilities.
As the Big 12 season begins, Smith says, "She's proven she can do it. There's no reason to think we won't see better from her."
Werremeyer has studied many of the greats — Gigi Bouffant, Jimmy Nielsen and Hope Solo.
"I always wanted to be in the goal," she says. "I was always pretty tall and I decided pretty early that I didn't like to run."
It started when she was 4 and played soccer at the YMCA. She wanted to be the goalie. Her passion rolled through high school. She earned Missouri Soccer Coaches Association Girls Class 4 All-State Second Team honors one year and First Team honors another year. Twice she was named the 2019 Suburban Big 7 Goalkeeper of the Year.
She also helped her FC Kansas City club team to a national runner-up finish at the 2018 U.S. Youth Soccer 17U Girls National Championship. She says that she couldn't have done it without the support of her parents, Brent and Tonya, who took her to play soccer in half of the states in the continental U.S.
"I wouldn't be at this level if it wasn't for the weekend soccer trips and spending 24 hours in the car or the financial investment," Werremeyer says. "Just knowing my parents are there and they want me to succeed, they'll come to Manhattan if I'm on the field or on the bench. They want me to be happy playing soccer."
Werremeyer began her run toward the K-State record books pretty early. She was a freshman. Veteran goalie Rachel Harris was injured. Werremeyer stepped in. She became the first K-State freshman to earn a win in a 3-0 win over Oklahoma. She became the first freshman to earn a shutout. She played a team-high 787:47 in frame with eight starts in nine matches.
Last season, her 88 saves were third most in K-State history and led the Big 12 Conference. She also led the Big 12 with 5.87 saves per game.
"You ask any striker why they play and it's because they love to score," Werremeyer says. "I love making saves and I love what it does for our team and how it makes everyone feel on the field. Yeah, it's a huge rush."
What has she learned most about herself?
"I've learned that you can always improve," she says. "There's always more to learn about the game. The game is ever-changing. There's always going to be someone who knows the game better and understands the opponent more, so just be a sponge and soak everything in."
She likely won't allow any of her individual feats to soak in during the Big 12 season. But the marks will accompany her every step. And her parents will be there cheering her on. And her coaches. And her teammates. And her fans.
It all starts at Iowa State on Thursday.
"It's go time," she says. "It's time to lock in. There's a lot that this program hasn't accomplished yet. We're hungry and excited to get there."
For now, it's the only goal that matters.
Players Mentioned
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