As we spotlight our final Hall of Fame inductee leading up to the Cardinal Excellence Fund Dinner, it’s only fitting to close with a player whose name remains firmly etched in the Saint Mary’s women’s soccer record book. Kate Jerman ’97 stands as one of the most accomplished athletes in the history of the program.
Her impact on Cardinal athletics extended far beyond the pitch, and her legacy will now be permanently recognized. The Saint Mary’s University Athletic Department, in collaboration with the Saint Mary’s Alumni Association, will induct Jerman into the Saint Mary’s Sports Hall of Fame on Saturday, March 21, 2026. She will be honored alongside fellow former student-athletes Steve Brieske, B’92, and Bailey Edwards, B’12, during the Cardinal Excellence Fund Dinner on campus.
“This honor is extremely special,” Jerman said after learning of her Hall of Fame selection. “Being selected to play a college sport is an accomplishment in itself. There are a small number of athletes that get the opportunity to play college sports, and I never took that for granted.”
For Jerman, the recognition carries a particularly personal meaning.
“This honor is extremely special to me personally because my father was a founding member of the Saint Raphael’s Football Program in Naperville, Ill.,” she said. “He mentored and coached thousands of athletes over his 50-plus years coaching seventh- and eighth-grade football.”
Despite her impressive career accomplishments, Jerman remains humble about the mark she left on the program. Over 73 games, she recorded 25 goals (13th all-time) and 27 assists (fourth all-time) for 77 career points, which rank eighth in program history. Her 27 assists place fourth all-time, while her 247 shots rank fifth.
“I will always remember the collective community full of professors, coaches, trainers, staff, and students that were invested in my experience as a Cardinal,” she said. “My time as a Cardinal was full of so many great memories, and I have carried those experiences as a student-athlete with me throughout my professional career.”
Jerman’s standout play also earned national recognition. She was a two-time NCAA All-Central Region honoree, earning Second Team honors in 1996 and Third Team recognition in 1995. She was also named First-Team All-MIAC in 1996 after receiving honorable mention honors the year prior.
“My time as a Cardinal helped build the solid foundation that I continue to follow today,” she added.
Saint Mary’s looks forward to celebrating Jerman and the rest of the Hall of Fame honorees during next weekend’s festivities.
