Kristen Dodson

Classroom

Kristen Dodson has excelled in the classroom during her three-plus years as a member of the Auburn soccer team. She has found her name on the dean’s list while progressing towards a degree in exercise science. Dodson plans to use her degree to apply to PA school and eventually become a physician assistant. She desires to be licensed to diagnose and treat illness and disease, and to prescribe medication for patients.

Character

Dodson’s character is unrivaled, not only on the Auburn campus, but also around the country. No matter how many accolades she has received, the first thing Dodson mentions when approached is her team. She has been the focal point of the offense since she arrived on campus, but has consistently shown she does not back down form pressure. Dodson’s leadership—both on and off the field—has brought the team chemistry to a high level, while also pacing the program to record highs the last two seasons. With Dodson, the Tigers have reached the NCAA Tournament Sweet 16 in back-to-back seasons for the first time ever and even made it to the NCAA Tournament Quarterfinals, which stands as the deepest postseason run in program history.

Community

Dodson has served a plethora of hours at BraveHeart Center for Place and Purpose where she supported and enhanced social skills, cognitive skills, self-esteem, creativity and work skills for young adults with developmental disabilities facing moderate to severe life challenges and their families. Specifically, she developed an art program that served as a catalyst for being a role model to 18-25 year-old people with disabilities. She has also spent time with Habitat for Humanity where she helped build homes for the local community. She has also been a key member for Serve Day, an annual day put on by Church of the Highlands that does a multitude of tasks to help the local community.

Competition

Dodson has been one of the most lethal forwards to ever don the orange and blue for Auburn. Through nomination time (seven matches in the 2017 season), she ranks in the top 10 in program history in goals, assists, points and game-winning goals. Her 24 goals are positioned at sixth all-time, while her 25 assists rank fifth. She has netted nine career game-winning goals en route to a point total of 73, which stands seventh in the Auburn record books. She was a first-team All-SEC selection (2016) and has been tabbed an all-region player as well (2016).

Dodson’s recognition has reached peak levels when she was awarded the National Player of the Week by three outlets: ESPN, NSCAA and TopDrawerSoccer. She recently broke the single-season program record for points when she secured 38 in 2016, breaking a 17-year-old record. She was at her best against the top competition as she had nine goals, including four match-winners, in SEC play a season ago.