Washington Spirit Signs Goalkeeper Nicole Barnhart to New Contract
Veteran signs one-year contract to stay with the club in 2024
Washington, D.C. (01/05/2024) – Washington Spirit goalkeeper Nicole ‘Barnie’ Barnhart has re-signed with the team on a new one-year contract, the club announced today. Barnhart joined the Spirit prior to the 2022 season.
Barnhart appeared in seven total matches, seeing 541 minutes of action. She tallied 26 saves – including one victory-clinching save in stoppage time against Angel City FC after subbing on for Aubrey Kingsbury – and one clean sheet across all competitions. Barnhart spent the first nine years of her NWSL career with FC Kansas City, Utah Royals FC and Kansas City NWSL where she set the still-standing NWSL regular season record for clean sheets at 52. As one of the league’s original players, Barnhart has also served as the Secretary of the NWSL Players Association since 2017.
“I’m excited to be back for my 12th season in this league – a league I have seen grow so much over the years,” said Barnhart. “I am proud to be at a club with an owner like Michele, who has the vision and drive to not only grow our club but the women’s game around the world. I can’t wait to get back on the field with my teammates and GK crew, to work hard, improve and bring my best to this team each and every day.”
Prior to her professional career, the Pottstown, Pennsylvania native spent five years with the Stanford Cardinal where she earned All-Pac-10 honors in each of her final three seasons. Barnhart still holds the lowest goals against average in Stanford women’s soccer history at 0.41. Following graduation, Barnhart played in the Women’s Premier Soccer League (WPSL), Women’s United Soccer Association (WUSA) and Women’s Professional Soccer (WPS) before the NWSL’s inception.
“Barnie is an invaluable part of this club and we’re thrilled to bring her back for another season,” said President of Soccer Operations/General Manager Mark Krikorian. “The experience and expertise she is able to provide her teammates both on and off the pitch will continue to be a great resource for this club.”
About The Washington Spirit
The Washington Spirit is the professional women’s soccer team based at Audi Field in Washington, D.C. Launched in 2012, the Spirit plays in the National Women’s Soccer League, the premier women’s soccer competition in North America. For more information about the Spirit, visit WashingtonSpirit.com and follow the club on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.
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