Nicole Renee Barnhart (born October 10, 1981) is an American professional soccer player who plays as a goalkeeper for Washington Spirit in the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL). She previously played for FC Gold Pride and Philadelphia Independence in Women's Professional Soccer, and for the United States national team where she was a two-time Olympic gold medalist. She competed in qualifying matches for 2008 Beijing Olympics and 2011 FIFA Women's World Cup, 2011 Four Nations Tournament and 2011 Algarve Cup.

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Nicole Barnhart

Barnhart representing the United States in 2011
Personal information
Full name	Nicole Renee Barnhart[1]
Date of birth	(1981-10-10) October 10, 1981 (age 42)
Place of birth	Pottstown, Pennsylvania, United States
Height	5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)
Position(s)	Goalkeeper
Team information
Current team	Washington Spirit
Number	28
Youth career
	Boyertown Soccer Club
1992–1998	Souderton Gems
1998–2000	FC Delco
College career
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2000–2004	Stanford Cardinal	71	(0)
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2006–2009	California Storm
2009–2010	FC Gold Pride	37	(0)
2011	Philadelphia Independence	9	(0)
2013–2017	FC Kansas City	108	(0)
2018–2020	Utah Royals	32	(0)
2021	Kansas City	2	(0)
2022–	Washington Spirit	3	(0)
International career‡
2004–2013	United States	54	(0)
Medal record Women's soccer Representing the  United States Olympic Games 2008 Beijing Team 2012 London Team FIFA Women's World Cup 2007 China Team 2011 Germany Team
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of June 11, 2023 ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of October 27, 2013

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Barnhart was born in Pottstown, Pennsylvania, and grew up in Gilbertsville, Pennsylvania. She attended Boyertown High School in Berks County, Pennsylvania, where she played for the boys' team for all four years, playing on the field as well as in goal. She also played basketball and lacrosse, and was named an All-American.^[2]

In 2009, Barnhart was allocated to FC Gold Pride for the inaugural season of Women's Professional Soccer (WPS).^[2]

In 2010, Barnhart helped the FC Gold Pride to the 2010 WPS title, starting 21 games and playing 1880 minutes while making 73 saves and allowing just 16 goals. She had eight shutouts, including the WPS championship game, and was named the WPS Goalkeeper of the Year and a WPS All-Star. She made 74 saves, allowed 23 goals for a 1.44 goals against average (GAA) and earned two shutouts.^[2]

In 2011, she signed with the Philadelphia Independence for the 2011 WPS season and started nine total matches to help the club to a WPS playoff berth and a berth in the championship game. She earned a shutout in the 2–0 Super Semifinal victory against magicJack. Barnhart compiled a 4–3–2 record with three shutouts and had a goals against average (GAA) of 1.11.^[2]

Barnhart has appeared in 53 matches for the United States women's national soccer team. She made her debut in a five-minute appearance as forward against Mexico on October 16, 2004.^[14] As the third U.S. goalkeeper at the 2007 FIFA Women's World Cup, she was only expected to see action in the event of injuries to Hope Solo and Briana Scurry.^[15]

Barnhart was the hero of the U.S. Women's 2008 CONCACAF final against Canada when she saved a penalty that won the final.^[16]

Barnhart was a member of the gold medal-winning USA team at 2008 Beijing Olympic, although she did not appear in a match with Hope Solo playing all six U.S. matches.^[17]

In 2010, with Solo out for shoulder surgery and recovery, Barnhart started 11 matches, with 8 wins, 1 loss, and 2 draws, and allowed 5 goals in 990 minutes; including 5 matches in CONCACAF qualifying tournament for FIFA Women's World Cup and 2 shutout playoff matches against Italy that secured the berth for 2011 FIFA Women's World Cup. In 2011, she started 9 matches and won 2 tournaments, at the Four Nations Tournament in China in January and the Algarve Cup in Portugal in March; with 6 wins, 2 losses, and 1 draw.^[2] She was on the roster for the 2011 FIFA Women's World Cup alongside Hope Solo, but did not get playing time.^[18]

At the 2012 London Olympics, Nicole Barnhart received her second Olympic gold medal as a standby goalkeeper for the United States; she did not get playing time, with Hope Solo playing every minute of the United States' six matches.^[19]

As a standby goalkeeper to Briana Scurry and Hope Solo, Barnhart has not competed in a single match in an Olympic or a FIFA World Cup tournament.^[2][20]

Barnhart is currently a volunteer assistant coach at Stanford University.^[3] In the 2011 season as a volunteer assistant coach, she helped lead her alma-mater, the Stanford Cardinal, to its first national championship in Kennesaw, Georgia. The Cardinal defeated the Duke Blue Devils 1–0.^[21]

In the fall 2021 United States Soccer Federation elections, Barnhart won a seat to the federation's board of directors on its Athletes' Council.^[25][26]

In March 2022, Barnhart was part of the Players' Commissioner Search Committee for the NWSL that selected Jessica Berman as the league's new commissioner.^[27]

• List of Olympic medalists in football
• All-time FC Gold Pride roster
• List of 2008 Summer Olympics medal winners
• List of 2012 Summer Olympics medal winners
• List of Stanford University people