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Katie Meyer's parents say fear of Stanford Uni's disciplinary action prompted her suicide

Steve and Gina Meyer, the grieving parents of Stanford University soccer star Katie Meyer, have spoken out about their daughter's suicide

The grieving parents of Stanford University soccer star Katie Meyer have spoken out about their daughter's demise, saying they believe her fear over potential disciplinary action from the school may have contributed to her suicide earlier this week.

Steve and Gina Meyer are hoping to prevent such tragedies after confirming the statement by an official from the County of Santa Clara on Thursday, March 3, that their daughter, 22, died by suicide. The aspiring soccer goalie, who was found dead in her dorm room Tuesday, March 1, was reportedly just months away from graduation.

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"She died by suicide," Gina Meyer told Stephanie Gosk of the NBC show 'Today' on Friday, March 4. "The last couple days are like a parent’s worst nightmare and you don’t wake up from it. So it’s just horrific." She continued, "I don’t even think it’s hit us yet. We’re still in shock. But we had no red flags."

The couple said they believe Katie received an email regarding potential disciplinary action from her university. "Katie, being Katie, was defending a teammate on campus over an incident and the repercussions of her defending that teammate (were possibly resulting in disciplinary action)," Steven Meyer told Gosk. "We have not seen that email yet," Gina explained. "She had been getting letters for a couple of months. This letter was kind of the final letter that there was going to be a trial or some kind of something. This is the only thing that we can come up with that triggered something."

In a statement to Today, Stanford University addressed the Meyers' concerns that their daughter may have faced discipline by the school. "Our entire community is devastated by Katie’s death, and we share our deepest condolences with Katie’s family and everyone who knew her at Stanford, across the country, and around the world," the statement read. "Katie touched so many lives. We are not able to share information about confidential student disciplinary matters. We as a university community continue to grieve with Katie’s family and cherish our memories of her."

Nonetheless, the devastated parents are wondering whether the combined pressure of academics and sports was too much for their talented daughter. "There is anxiety and there is stress to be perfect, to be the best, to be No. 1," Gina said, revealing that their final conversation with Katie was on FaceTime just hours before she ended her own life. "She was excited," Gina recalled. "She had a lot on her plate. She had a lot going on. But she was happy. She was in great spirits." Steven added, "Just the usual jovial Katie."

During the interview on Today, Gina wore a cardinal red sweatshirt of Katie's just to feel close to her daughter. "I know it’s going to sound crazy, but every mom is going to understand this, but when you smell it, it smells her, it smells like Katie, just her scent," the embattled mother said, breaking down in tears. "I’m wearing it because it just feels [like I am] close to her."

The Meyers are now hoping to start a conversation about improving communication between parents and college administrators. They feel they may have missed a chance to save their daughter's life if they knew what she was going through. "We’re just we’re struggling right now," Gina said. "We are struggling to know what happened, and why it happened. We’re just heartbroken, so heartbroken," she added.