Senior Mary Coffed's involvement in the community with Toys for Tots and the Yes We Can food drive, has earned her a place on the SEC Soccer Community Service Team.
"On the field, she's the perfect teammate" said Amy Howard, senior goalkeeper and Coffed's roommate. "She's a hard worker, and she cares about the team and the players. It helps that she's a great soccer player as well. She's such a great person that is highly involved with community service and academics."
Every week, Coffed spends Monday at the East Alabama Food Bank and Friday at the Auburn United Methodist Church Food Pantry, according to Dan Froehlich, associate director of media relations for Auburn athletics.
Coffed said her interest in community service began in high school, but a hunger studies course at the University sparked a passion in her.
"I've been getting really involved with food pantries and stuff," Coffed said. "I'm sad that it took me this long. It's something I see 100 percent carrying on in the future."
Coffed said the experience she gained through marketing courses has helped her choose a path for after graduation in May.
"Unfortunately, I don't know exactly what I want to do yet," Coffed said. "I would really like to work with a non-profit and do a little marketing with that. That would be my dream. It would be fun and rewarding in a lot of ways."
Since choosing Auburn, Coffed has been a fixture at the front of Auburn's attack.
Coffed has started since midway through her freshman year.
Now the senior has played in a total of 90 games and holds the record for most games played.
Coach Karen Hoppa said she feels that the record can be credited to Coffed's impact as a freshman.
"Mary hit the ground running her freshman year and has played every game of her career," Hoppa said.
For now, Coffed is trying to use her veteran savvy to guide the Tigers to her and head coach Karen Hoppa's first-ever Sweet 16 at the NCAA Tournament.
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