SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — When Andrea Kitahata's Stanford soccer teammate and close friend Katie Meyer died by suicide three years ago, Kitahata realized focusing on her grief and mental health mattered more than anything else at that time.

So she stepped away from her sport only six games into her sophomore season, finding her own way to honor Meyer's memory by becoming an advocate and an example through her outreach around mental health awareness. Meyer was a popular goalie who led the Cardinal to the 2019 NCAA College Cup championship game at age 22.

“Working through the grief of losing someone who was built into my daily routine and suddenly disappeared took everything out of me,” Kitahata said. “Feeling the pressure of playing time, starting spots and my career, I wanted nothing m

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