Coffield to play in prestigious game
When she's not playing or thinking about soccer, there's a good chance you'll find Ellie Coffield taking care of her family's pets. Among these are a dog, a cat, two guinea pigs and a tortoise named Carl.
“I'm so interested in animals,” she said. “I always thought it would be great to be a zookeeper, being around animals all the time.”
Coffield's mind will most definitely be on soccer in late May, when she will be playing in the Girls High School All-American Game, scheduled May 29 in St. Louis.
The former star midfielder at Mars Area High School, who graduated early and is now enrolled at the University of Pittsburgh, was one of 150 girls from across the nation to be named All-American last fall.
That list was recently trimmed down to 45 players, who have been split onto two squads.
Coffield will play for the East squad. Her teammates are from New England and Mid-Atlantic states.
The West roster includes players from Washington, Oregon, Utah, Idaho and Minnesota, among other states.
Coffield played on the national stage in 2018 when her club team, Beadling, played in the national tournament in Texas. She relishes the chance to do so again, this time as an All-American.
“Being able to represent the WPIAL and the state of Pennsylvania, I think it's going to be a fun experience,” she said. “Playing against great players from around the country, it's a chance to make some really cool memories.”
Players will convene in St. Louis two days before the game and will get in practices and workouts.
Coffield's parents, Grant and Kelly, played football and volleyball, respectively, at Pitt. There was a good chance Ellie would take to athletics, but it was soccer, specifically, that she gained a passion for.
“I played a lot of sports growing up, but there's just something about soccer. I love it,” she exclaimed. “My dad coached me when I was younger.”
Last November, Coffield was instrumental in Mars claiming WPIAL and PIAA crowns while turning in an undefeated season. She scored 24 goals and had 36 assists.
Her junior year, she was named Gatorade Pennsylvania Girls Soccer Player of the Year and finished her scholastic career with 92 goals and 97 assists.
While she has earned no shortage of accolades and honors from her play on the field, Coffield appreciates the effect soccer has had on her life off of it.
“My roommate at Pitt is from Texas and she plays here, too,” Coffield said. “There is so much we have in common, so much we can talk about just because of soccer.”
