Staying Humble and Hungry
Aug 28, 2023 | Soccer, Sports Extra
By: D. Scott Fritchen
Jazmin Brown learned of her honor shortly after its announcement last Wednesday during her long walk to class. The cellphone of the Kansas State sophomore defender lit up again and again and again bearing congratulatory messages.
The native of Gilbert, Arizona, scored the first two goals of her college career in a season-opening 4-1 win at Green Bay and helped snuff out a number of attacks at No. 18 Northwestern for the Wildcats' first shutout in nearly a year and its first road draw against a ranked opponent in program history.
For Brown's efforts, she was named Big 12 co-Defensive Player of the Week. She was also named to the TopDrawerSoccer.com National Team of the Week and the College Soccer News National Team of the Week, becoming the first K-State player to earn all three weekly honors in the same week.
"I began getting texts that I received these honors," she says. "I was really excited. I didn't know this was a thing. I was really happy."
She was the second K-State player and first defender in school history to score two goals in a season opener.
"We practice set pieces a lot," she says. "I'm really dominant in the air because of my height, and I'm not afraid to head the ball. We have specific set pieces for me to go win it. Last year, it wasn't so successful. I had some close chances but (they didn't go in). It was definitely a thrill on the road, and there was a lot of excitement."
Brown helped lift K-State to its first road victory in a season opener in school history and its first win in a season opener since 2018. Brown and the Wildcats took that momentum into a tough contest against No. 18 Northwestern in Evanston, Illinois. The 0-0 draw marked the second time K-State has shut out a ranked foe, the first against a ranked opponent on the road.
The Wildcats went on to beat UTSA, 2-0, last Thursday before playing to a 0-0 draw against Creighton on Sunday.
K-State, 2-0-2, has established a new program high with four-straight matches without a loss heading into Thursday's 7 p.m. meeting at Vanderbilt in Nashville, Tennessee.
"Jazmin is extremely humble and she's a great leader," K-State head coach Mike Dibbini says. "We're excited for her place in K-State history over the next few years. She's definitely earned those awards, but at the end of the day, we talk about staying humble and hungry, and we've got work to do. She understands that. She's a big piece to helping us have the success we're going to have, and she's focused on staying humble and hungry."
Brown grew up in a soccer household and attended the games of her two older sisters, which blossomed her love for the sport. It didn't take long for Brown to realize she was in a league of her own. At her coach's recommendation, she tried out for a spot in the Olympic Development Program in Colorado in 2016. Upon being selected for the squad, her dedication and improvement continued to flourish. She was a 2020-21 AIA All-6A First Team selection at Basha (Ariz.) High School and a standout on the AZ Arsenal ECNL team.
Her cellphone buzzed on the first day that college coaches could begin recruiting her to their programs. She spoke with six schools the first day alone. Eventually, she took visits, and K-State stood above the rest.
"I really, really liked how college town-ish Manhattan is, and how everyone is so supportive," she says. "I remember all the purple stood out to me. I loved it so much. I went to a soccer game and there were a lot of people at the games, people who had no affiliation with the program, and that was really cool."
For Dibbini, pursuing Brown was a no-brainer.
"One of my college teammates, a soccer coach in Arizona, said, 'There's a player you need to look at,'" Dibbini says. "We said, 'Oh yeah, she can play.' As soon as she started playing in some major showcases, she received major interest."
It didn't take long for Brown to make a statement. Named to the 2022 Big 12 All-Freshman Team, she played in all 19 matches with 18 starts and set the K-State freshman record with 1,476 minutes played. More times than not, she played all 90 minutes in matches. She recorded 10 shots with five on goal.
"This year, I communicate more in the back because I'm the center-back and I see the whole field," she says. "I use my voice compared to last year being a freshman on a team with a bunch of seniors. This year, we only have three seniors, and I'm stepping into a role of being a leader on the field more this season."
K-State travels to Vanderbilt on Thursday before returning to Manhattan for four-straight home games, including the Big 12 opener against Cincinnati on September 14. The Wildcats play 10 league contests but aspire to play even deeper into October with a Big 12 Tournament berth for the second-straight year.
"We're really focused on a winning season because K-State hasn't had it before," she says. "Going back to the Big 12 Tournament and being really dominant in our home games are goals. That's what we really want to focus on. I'm in the backline but I'm able to score off set pieces, and I want to help my team get shutouts."
As for another goal?
"The NCAA Tournament — it's totally possible with the people and depth we have, and we're only going to get even better each year," she says. "I think we can really grow as a program."
Dibbini is eager to watch Brown grow as a player during her career with the Wildcats.
"She can play at the next level, but it's going to take commitment, dedication, and not just from soccer ability, but from the mindset, too, and she's already checked a lot of those boxes," Dibbini says. "If she stays the course and develops and works on her craft and all the details of her craft, the sky's the limit for her."
Might be a good idea for Brown to keep the cellphone nearby.
This could be just the beginning of those congratulatory texts.
Jazmin Brown learned of her honor shortly after its announcement last Wednesday during her long walk to class. The cellphone of the Kansas State sophomore defender lit up again and again and again bearing congratulatory messages.
The native of Gilbert, Arizona, scored the first two goals of her college career in a season-opening 4-1 win at Green Bay and helped snuff out a number of attacks at No. 18 Northwestern for the Wildcats' first shutout in nearly a year and its first road draw against a ranked opponent in program history.
For Brown's efforts, she was named Big 12 co-Defensive Player of the Week. She was also named to the TopDrawerSoccer.com National Team of the Week and the College Soccer News National Team of the Week, becoming the first K-State player to earn all three weekly honors in the same week.
"I began getting texts that I received these honors," she says. "I was really excited. I didn't know this was a thing. I was really happy."
Brown's first-career goal came on a corner kick in the 19th minute at Green Bay on August 17. Senior Kiran Singh, making her K-State debut, sent a corner kick to the six-yard box. The 5-foot-10 Brown found herself alone and easily deposited her header into the lower right corner. Brown scored her second goal when Singh played in another corner kick, and Brown muscled her way through traffic to head in the ball from the doorstep in the 81st minute.Keep the honors rolling in, we see you @jazminbrownn 👀
— K-State Soccer (@KStateSOC) August 23, 2023
📄 https://t.co/CeL24RB2OY#KStateSOC x #Big12SOC pic.twitter.com/jCNJAofjl2
She was the second K-State player and first defender in school history to score two goals in a season opener.
"We practice set pieces a lot," she says. "I'm really dominant in the air because of my height, and I'm not afraid to head the ball. We have specific set pieces for me to go win it. Last year, it wasn't so successful. I had some close chances but (they didn't go in). It was definitely a thrill on the road, and there was a lot of excitement."
Brown helped lift K-State to its first road victory in a season opener in school history and its first win in a season opener since 2018. Brown and the Wildcats took that momentum into a tough contest against No. 18 Northwestern in Evanston, Illinois. The 0-0 draw marked the second time K-State has shut out a ranked foe, the first against a ranked opponent on the road.
The Wildcats went on to beat UTSA, 2-0, last Thursday before playing to a 0-0 draw against Creighton on Sunday.
K-State, 2-0-2, has established a new program high with four-straight matches without a loss heading into Thursday's 7 p.m. meeting at Vanderbilt in Nashville, Tennessee.
"Jazmin is extremely humble and she's a great leader," K-State head coach Mike Dibbini says. "We're excited for her place in K-State history over the next few years. She's definitely earned those awards, but at the end of the day, we talk about staying humble and hungry, and we've got work to do. She understands that. She's a big piece to helping us have the success we're going to have, and she's focused on staying humble and hungry."
Brown grew up in a soccer household and attended the games of her two older sisters, which blossomed her love for the sport. It didn't take long for Brown to realize she was in a league of her own. At her coach's recommendation, she tried out for a spot in the Olympic Development Program in Colorado in 2016. Upon being selected for the squad, her dedication and improvement continued to flourish. She was a 2020-21 AIA All-6A First Team selection at Basha (Ariz.) High School and a standout on the AZ Arsenal ECNL team.
Her cellphone buzzed on the first day that college coaches could begin recruiting her to their programs. She spoke with six schools the first day alone. Eventually, she took visits, and K-State stood above the rest.
"I really, really liked how college town-ish Manhattan is, and how everyone is so supportive," she says. "I remember all the purple stood out to me. I loved it so much. I went to a soccer game and there were a lot of people at the games, people who had no affiliation with the program, and that was really cool."
For Dibbini, pursuing Brown was a no-brainer.
"One of my college teammates, a soccer coach in Arizona, said, 'There's a player you need to look at,'" Dibbini says. "We said, 'Oh yeah, she can play.' As soon as she started playing in some major showcases, she received major interest."
It didn't take long for Brown to make a statement. Named to the 2022 Big 12 All-Freshman Team, she played in all 19 matches with 18 starts and set the K-State freshman record with 1,476 minutes played. More times than not, she played all 90 minutes in matches. She recorded 10 shots with five on goal.
"This year, I communicate more in the back because I'm the center-back and I see the whole field," she says. "I use my voice compared to last year being a freshman on a team with a bunch of seniors. This year, we only have three seniors, and I'm stepping into a role of being a leader on the field more this season."
K-State travels to Vanderbilt on Thursday before returning to Manhattan for four-straight home games, including the Big 12 opener against Cincinnati on September 14. The Wildcats play 10 league contests but aspire to play even deeper into October with a Big 12 Tournament berth for the second-straight year.
"We're really focused on a winning season because K-State hasn't had it before," she says. "Going back to the Big 12 Tournament and being really dominant in our home games are goals. That's what we really want to focus on. I'm in the backline but I'm able to score off set pieces, and I want to help my team get shutouts."
As for another goal?
"The NCAA Tournament — it's totally possible with the people and depth we have, and we're only going to get even better each year," she says. "I think we can really grow as a program."
Dibbini is eager to watch Brown grow as a player during her career with the Wildcats.
"She can play at the next level, but it's going to take commitment, dedication, and not just from soccer ability, but from the mindset, too, and she's already checked a lot of those boxes," Dibbini says. "If she stays the course and develops and works on her craft and all the details of her craft, the sky's the limit for her."
Might be a good idea for Brown to keep the cellphone nearby.
This could be just the beginning of those congratulatory texts.
Players Mentioned
D
/ Soccer
F
/ SoccerK-State Rowing | Media Day
Tuesday, February 24
K-State Rowing | Weights Practice
Tuesday, February 24
K-State Tennis | Weekend Recap vs Old Dominion & Minnesota
Tuesday, February 24
K-State Track and Field | Sights & Sounds Steve Miller Invitational
Monday, February 23
