Katie Meyer, a senior at Stanford and a goalkeeper and captain on the Stanford women’s soccer team, died Tuesday in a campus residence. She was 22.
Stanford Vice Provost for Student Affairs Susie Brubaker-Cole and Athletic Director Bernard Muir confirmed the news in a message to students, faculty and staff on Wednesday after an initial report Tuesday did not identify Meyer out of respect for the family’s privacy.
The school did not reveal the cause of death.
Meyer was an International Relations major and History minor at Stanford. A three-year starter on the Cardinal women’s soccer team, Meyer made two critical saves in a penalty shootout against North Carolina in 2019 to help Stanford win its third NCAA championship. She was a two-time Pac-12 champion, a member of the 2019 College Cup All-Tournament team and a two-year captain.
“Katie was extraordinarily committed to everything and everyone in her world,” Brubaker-Cole and Muir wrote.
“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.”
During her time at Stanford, Meyer served as an intern at Just Women’s Sports and was a member of JWS’ inaugural Varsity Squad.
A native of Burbank, Calif., Meyer is survived by her parents, Steven and Gina, and her two sisters, Samantha and Siena.
Stanford counseling staff have been on site at the residence hall and are working with student-athletes on campus, Brubaker-Cole and Muir said.
Just Women’s Sports released the following statement:
“Just Women’s Sports is heartbroken to learn of the passing of Katie Meyer. Katie was one of the first athletes we ever interviewed. She went on to become an intern at JWS and was a valuable member of our team. With every interaction, we felt her passion, charisma, intelligence and humor. Katie was a tremendous leader, a national champion, and someone whose energy inspired everyone she knew. She will be greatly missed. All of our thoughts are with her family and friends.”