Athlete of the Week: Marin McCoy ’19

As the team’s most potent threat, McCoy has helped lead the Garnet to its third straight NCAA tournament appearance. This year, with 10 goals and six assists, she picked up where she left off  in 2015 — when she was named to the Centennial Conference First Team and awarded Centennial Conference Rookie of the Year. During these two impressive seasons, McCoy has posted historic numbers. She now ranks fifth in program history in goals (25), fifth in assists (16), and fourth in points (66).
THE PHOENIX: What do you like most about being a student-athlete?
MARIN McCOY: I like being a student-athlete at Swarthmore because I think it is extremely important to have something to balance the academics. The academics here can be very intense and all-consuming, and having soccer as an outlet is extremely important not only for my physical health, but also for my mental health. I also like exploring myself in two vastly different arenas and navigating the challenges they both entail, and trying to use the skills I gain in overcoming obstacles in the other areas.
TP: What is your favorite Swarthmore athletics memory?
MM: My favorite Swarthmore athletics memory would probably be the whole experience of making it to the final 16 and then final eight of our NCAA tournament last year. We came back from being down in the shootout, and the excitement and terror of the experience brought the team together. It was amazing being a part of that historical moment for the program and sharing in the pride that the whole team felt about how far we had come from several years previous.
TP: What is your major and what influenced you to pursue it?
MM: I am completely undecided on my major, probably even more now than when I came in as a freshman. I am interested in biology because I have always loved figuring out how the body works, [not only] chemically, [but also] emotionally and psychologically. However, I am still trying to find a path that also incorporates my social justice interests. I guess we’ll just have to wait and see because I am not anywhere close to knowing my path.
TP: How has your experience in the 2015 NCAA tournament prepared you for this year?
MM: If anything, our experience last year taught us that anything can happen. We had no idea that we were going to make it to the final eight, and I think what I learned from that season is to put faith in the team you have and go into every game believing you are going to come out on top. I am also realizing more and more how important it is to have faith in your teammates and that having the confidence that you can win will be vital to your success. I think the uncertainty of getting into the NCAA tournament this year has really made us cherish our opportunity to keep playing and I think that it has definitely sparked a fire that is going to bring our team even closer together and fuel a desire to make it to that same place once again.