Women's Soccer
Emily Kruger
- Title:
- Assistant Coach
- Email:
- wsoccer@stmarys-ca.edu
Assistant coach Emily Kruger enters their fifth season a part of the Gaels coaching staff dating back to 2022.
Kruger is the team's primary goalkeeper coach and has had the pleasure of working with two of the best keepers in program history over their tenure. Taylor Poland became the program's first ever WCC Goalkeeper of the Year in 2020 and also earned All-WCC Honorable Mention under Kruger in 2022 where she tallied 74 saves and started all 18 matches for the Gaels.
Most recently, Kruger has worked with Kate Plachy since her freshman season in 2023. Plachy redshirted that year but put together a career season in 2025, starting in all 18 games while recording 65 saves and 12 shutouts, good for second most in a single-season in program history. Plachy went on to be named WCC Goalkeeper of the Year and was also named to the United Soccer Coaches All-West Region First Team as Saint Mary's won twelve games and a program record seven conference matches for one of the best seasons in program history. Plachy currently ranks fourth all-time in program history with 18 career shutouts over her two seasons.
As a player they were the starting goalkeeper at Cal from 2010-2013, recording 279 saves in almost 80 games played, a program record at the time. After graduating, Kruger played professionally for KR Reykjavik in Iceland for one season before joining Portland Thorns FC in the NWSL for two seasons. With the Thorns, Kruger played alongside former USWNT goalkeeper Adrianna Franch and 2014 FIFA Player of the Year Nadine Angerer.
After retiring from professional soccer, Kruger joined Coaches Across Continents to lead coaching courses for hundreds of coaches in eight different countries. Eventually they settled into a local soccer club in Alexandria, Virginia where they worked with teams and goalkeepers from U9 to U19. The Redwood City native is thrilled to be back home in the Bay Area and join the coaching staff at Saint Mary's.
Kruger is the team's primary goalkeeper coach and has had the pleasure of working with two of the best keepers in program history over their tenure. Taylor Poland became the program's first ever WCC Goalkeeper of the Year in 2020 and also earned All-WCC Honorable Mention under Kruger in 2022 where she tallied 74 saves and started all 18 matches for the Gaels.
Most recently, Kruger has worked with Kate Plachy since her freshman season in 2023. Plachy redshirted that year but put together a career season in 2025, starting in all 18 games while recording 65 saves and 12 shutouts, good for second most in a single-season in program history. Plachy went on to be named WCC Goalkeeper of the Year and was also named to the United Soccer Coaches All-West Region First Team as Saint Mary's won twelve games and a program record seven conference matches for one of the best seasons in program history. Plachy currently ranks fourth all-time in program history with 18 career shutouts over her two seasons.
As a player they were the starting goalkeeper at Cal from 2010-2013, recording 279 saves in almost 80 games played, a program record at the time. After graduating, Kruger played professionally for KR Reykjavik in Iceland for one season before joining Portland Thorns FC in the NWSL for two seasons. With the Thorns, Kruger played alongside former USWNT goalkeeper Adrianna Franch and 2014 FIFA Player of the Year Nadine Angerer.
After retiring from professional soccer, Kruger joined Coaches Across Continents to lead coaching courses for hundreds of coaches in eight different countries. Eventually they settled into a local soccer club in Alexandria, Virginia where they worked with teams and goalkeepers from U9 to U19. The Redwood City native is thrilled to be back home in the Bay Area and join the coaching staff at Saint Mary's.
Friday, November 07
Tuesday, November 04
Sunday, November 02
Saturday, October 25
