Barnhart played college soccer for the Stanford Cardinal at Stanford University. She was named an all-Pacific-10 Conference player in 2002, 2003 and 2004, and holds the Stanford women's record for lowest career goals-against average.
Club career
In 2009, Barnhart was allocated to FC Gold Pride for the inaugural season of Women's Professional Soccer. 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 and earned two shutouts. 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 of 1.11.
On January 11, 2013 Barnhart was one of three members from the United States women's national team that was allocated to the new NWSL club FC Kansas City, along with Lauren Cheney and Becky Sauerbrunn via the NWSL Player Allocation. Her 2013 regular-season record of ten scoreless "clean sheet" games remained until surpassed by Adrianna Franch in a longer, 2017 season. In August 2013, she was named NWSL Goalkeeper of the Year. Barnhart appeared in 22 games in 2014, recording 8 clean sheets. She played in both the semi-final and final for FCKC, helping them to win the 2014 NWSL Championship over the Seattle Reign. In 2015 she was named to the NWSL second XI after recording 8 clean sheets in 17 games. Barnhart was crowned NWSL Champion again in 2015 as FC Kansas City defeated Seattle Reign in the final for the second straight year. Barnhart had similarly strong numbers in 2016, starting 20 games and recording 6 clean sheets, but FC Kansas City failed to qualify for the playoffs. In 2017 Barnhart started all 24 games for FC Kansas City, and recorded 6 shutouts, however FCKC missed the playoffs for the second straight year.
Utah Royals FC, 2018–present
After FC Kansas City ceased operations following the 2017 season, Barnhart was officially added to the roster of the Utah Royals FC on February 12, 2018. Barnhart made her debut for the Royals on June 2 against Sky Blue FC as starting goalkeeper Abby Smith was away on international duty.
International career
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. 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. Barnhart was the hero of the U.S. Women's 2008CONCACAF final against Canada when she saved a penalty that won the final. 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. 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. She was on the roster for the 2011 FIFA Women's World Cup alongside Hope Solo, but did not get playing time. 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. 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.
Coaching
Barnhart is currently a volunteer assistant coach at Stanford University. 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.
