By Michael Lewis

FrontRowSoccer.com Editor

Stanford University captain and goalkeeper Katie Meyer, who played an important role in The Cardinal’s 2019 NCAA Division I championship, died by suicide, according to the Santa Clara County coroner’s office.

Meyer was found dead in her college dorm on Tuesday.

She was 22.

On Thursday night, the coroner’s office ruled out any type of foul play and said that Meyer’s death was “self-inflicted.”

It was not immediately known whether she left a note or message. The office did not offer any other details.

“The County of Santa Clara is not releasing additional information about the case at this time,” a statement from the county’s public affairs office said on Thursday.

Meyer was best known for her performance in the 2019 NCAA final, when she s aved two penalty kicks against the University of North Carolina in the shootout.

“Katie’s loss is so profound because she was so spirited and action oriented, and connected to so many people on campus,” one of her professors, Bob Sutton, told the San Francisco Chronicle.

Meyer, a senior, majored in international relations and minored in his history. She also was a resident assistant.

On Wednesday, vice provost for student affairs Susie Brubaker-Cole and The Jaquish & Kenninger director of athletics Bernard Muir issued a joint statement.

“Katie was a bright shining light for so many on the field and in our community,” they said.

“Please join us in offering our deepest condolences to her parents and sisters. We would also like to extend our heartfelt condolences to Katie’s friends, hallmates, classmates, teammates, faculty and coaches. University counseling staff have been on-site at her residence hall, and athletics counseling staff have been working with our student athletes. We will continue to reach out and offer support to the many campus community members who knew her.

“Katie was extraordinarily committed to everything and everyone in her world. Her friends describe her as a larger-than-life team player in all her pursuits, from choosing an academic discipline she said ‘changed my perspective on the world and the very important challenges that we need to work together to overcome’ to the passion she brought to the Cardinal women’s soccer program and to women’s sports in general.

“There are no words to express the emptiness that we feel at this moment. We are reaching out to all of you in our community, because this impacts all of us. Please know you are not alone. There are resources available to support us during this difficult time.”

Front Row Soccer editor Michael Lewis has covered 13 World Cups (eight men, five women), seven Olympics and 25 MLS Cups. He has written about New York City FC, New York Cosmos, the New York Red Bulls and both U.S. national teams for Newsday and has penned a soccer history column for the Guardian.com. Lewis, who has been honored by the Press Club of Long Island and National Soccer Coaches Association of America, is the former editor of BigAppleSoccer.com. He has written seven books about the beautiful game and has published ALIVE AND KICKING The incredible but true story of the Rochester Lancers. It is available at Amazon.com.