Samantha Kroeger

Samantha Kroeger
Kroeger with Brooklyn FC in 2026
Personal information
Full name Samantha Cai-Lu Kroeger[1]
Date of birth (2002-04-28) April 28, 2002
Place of birth West Milford, New Jersey
Height 5 ft 2 in (1.57 m)
Position Midfielder
Team information
Current team
 Tampa Bay Sun
College career
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2019–2023 Rutgers Scarlet Knights 78 (15)
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2023 Morris Elite SC 10 (4)
2024–2026 Brooklyn FC 56 (1)
2026– Tampa Bay Sun 1 (0)
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 00:33, August 26, 2026 (UTC)

Samantha Cai-Lu Kroeger (born April 28, 2002) is an American professional soccer player who plays as midfielder for USL Super League club Tampa Bay Sun. She played college soccer for the Rutgers Scarlet Knights before starting her professional career with Brooklyn FC.

College career

Raised in West Milford, New Jersey, Kroeger played prep soccer at West Milford High School.[2] Starting in 2019, she played her collegiate soccer career at Rutgers University.[3]

In 2021, Kroeger was a key member of a dominant Rutgers team that went undefeated in Big Ten conference play, winning all ten of their conference matches. The team advanced to the finals of the Big Ten tournament, marking just the third finals appearance in Rutgers history, though they were defeated by Michigan.[4] Rutgers also made it to the College Cup for the second time in its history, where they were eliminated by Florida State.[5] In 2022, Kroeger and teammate Allison Lowrey both led the team in scoring with seven goals each.

Kroeger joined Morris Elite SC in the USL W League in 2023. During the season, she appeared in 11 matches and contributed to the team's victory in the Metropolitan Division. Morris Elite qualified for the playoffs, where Kroeger made one appearance.[6]

Club career

Brooklyn FC

Kroeger was not drafted in the 2024 NWSL Draft.[7] Later that year on July 3, 2024, it was announced that Kroeger agreed to join Brooklyn FC for the inaugural USL Super League season.[8] Kroeger made her professional debut on September 8, 2024, starting in Brooklyn FC's inaugural match against Spokane.[9] On September 25, she was named Player of the Match for her performance in a game against Dallas. Kroeger scored her first professional goal on October 27 in a home match against Fort Lauderdale United FC.

In her second season in Brooklyn, Kroeger earned multiple USL Super League Team of the Month honors.[10] She appeared in all 28 of her team's matches, the only player on Brooklyn to do so that year.[11] She also registered seven assists, which tied the Super League's single-season record. On July 9, 2026, Brooklyn FC announced Kroeger's departure.[12]

Tampa Bay Sun

On July 31, 2026, it was announced that Kroeger had signed with fellow USL Super League club Tampa Bay Sun.[13]

Career statistics

College summary

College team Season Regular season Big Ten Tournament NCAA Tournament Total
Conference Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Rutgers Scarlet Knights 2020–21 Big 10 16 1 — — 16 1
2021 17 5 3 0 5 0 25 5
2022 18 7 1 0 1 0 20 7
2023 15 2 1 0 1 0 17 2
Total 66 15 5 0 7 0 78 15

Club summary

As of August 22, 2025
Club Season League League Cup Playoffs Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Morris Elite SC 2023 USL W League 10 4 — 1 0 11 4
Brooklyn FC 2024–25 USL Super League 28 1 — 0 0 28 1
2025–26 USL Super League 28 0 — 0 0 28 0
Total 56 1 0 0 0 0 56 1
Tampa Bay Sun FC 2026 USL Super League 1 0 — 0 0 1 0
Career total 67 5 0 0 1 0 68 5

References

  1. ↑ Brooklyn FC [@brooklynwfootballclub]; (October 4, 2025). "Happy game day, but make it full government names". Retrieved March 2, 2026 – via Instagram.
  2. ↑ Lashley, Josh. "Elevating their game", West Milford Messenger, November 28, 2021. Accessed September 29, 2024. "Samantha Kroeger, a graduate of West Milford High School is a sophomore midfielder and forward for the Rutgers University (New Brunswick campus) women’s soccer team this year."
  3. ↑ "Sam Kroeger - Women's Soccer". Rutgers University Athletics. Retrieved September 28, 2024.
  4. ↑ Ford, Ryan. "Michigan women's soccer wins Big Ten tournament for first time since 1999". Detroit Free Press. Retrieved September 28, 2024.
  5. ↑ "Florida State defeats Rutgers to advance to Women's College Cup final | NCAA.com". www.ncaa.com. Retrieved September 28, 2024.
  6. ↑ "Morris Elite SC | uslwleague.com/morris-elite-sc". USLWLeague.com - Official Site of the USL W League. Retrieved September 26, 2024.
  7. ↑ "Final list of registered players announced for 2024 NWSL Draft". SoccerWire. Retrieved September 27, 2024.
  8. ↑ Lewis, Michael (July 3, 2024). "SIGNING ON: Former Rutgers standout Kroeger agrees to play with Brooklyn FC". Front Row Soccer. Retrieved September 28, 2024.
  9. ↑ "Four Women's Soccer Alums Kick Off USL Super League". Rutgers University Athletics. Retrieved September 28, 2024.
  10. ↑ "Brooklyn FC Women Confirm 2026 Fall Season Roster Moves". Brooklyn FC. Retrieved July 10, 2026.
  11. ↑ "Brooklyn FC Player Stats". USL Super League. Retrieved July 9, 2026.
  12. ↑ "Brooklyn FC Women Confirm 2026 Fall Season Roster Moves". Brooklyn FC. Retrieved July 10, 2026.
  13. ↑ Tampa Bay Sun FC [@tampabaysunfc]; (July 31, 2026). "Officially official. ✍️". Retrieved July 31, 2026 – via Instagram.
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