Kerry Abello
{{Short description|American soccer player (born 1999)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Kerry Abello
| image = NC Courage vs Orlando Pride (Jul 2024) 012.jpg
| caption = Abello with the Orlando Pride in 2024
| fullname = Kerry Margaret Abello
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1999|09|17}}
| birth_place = Elmhurst, Illinois, United States
| height = {{height|ft=5|in=5}}
| position = Defender
| currentclub = Orlando Pride
| clubnumber = 25
| youthyears1 =
| youthclubs1 = Team Chicago
| youthyears2 =
| youthclubs2 = Eclipse Select
| collegeyears1 = 2017–2021
| college1 = Penn State Nittany Lions
| collegecaps1 = 91
| collegegoals1 = 17
| years1 = 2018
| clubs1 = Chicago Red Stars Reserves
| caps1 =
| goals1 =
| years2 = 2022–
| clubs2 = Orlando Pride
| caps2 = 68
| goals2 = 2
| nationalyears1 = 2016–2017
| nationalteam1 = United States U18
| nationalcaps1 =
| nationalgoals1 =
| nationalyears2 = 2017
| nationalteam2 = United States U19
| nationalcaps2 =
| nationalgoals2 =
| nationalyears3 = 2025–
| nationalteam3 = United States
| nationalcaps3 = 1
| nationalgoals3 = 0
| club-update = March 14, 2025
| nationalteam-update = June 3, 2025
}}
Kerry Margaret Abello (born September 17, 1999) is an American professional soccer player who plays as a defender for the Orlando Pride of the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) and the United States national team.
A versatile player, Abello played center-back, full-back and forward during her college career with the Penn State Nittany Lions before being drafted 24th overall in the 2021 NWSL Draft. She won the NWSL Shield and NWSL Championship with the Pride in 2024.
Early life
Born in Elmhurst, Illinois, Abello grew up playing club soccer for Team Chicago and Eclipse Select SC, and also played one year of high school soccer at Benet Academy.{{cite web |last=Cren |first=Matt Le |title=Penn State's Kerry Abello grew up in Batavia and played one season at Benet. Her next step: being drafted by the NWSL's Orlando Pride. |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/naperville-sun/sports/ct-nvs-spt-womens-soccer-benet-kerry-abello-st-012221-20210121-6haymhopdndkdil65j6ofd52ba-story.html |website=chicagotribune.com|date=January 21, 2021 }} She was a three-time NSCAA Youth All-American between 2014 and 2016.{{cite web |title=Kerry Abello - Women's Soccer |url=https://gopsusports.com/sports/womens-soccer/roster/kerry-abello/10488 |website=Penn State University Athletics}}{{cite web |title=2014 NSCAA Youth Girls All-America Team |url=https://www.socceramerica.com/publications/article/61655/2014-nscaa-youth-girls-all-america-team.html |website=www.socceramerica.com|date=November 22, 2014 }} Within the 2017 recruiting class, Abello ranked 12th overall and as the no. 2 defender nationally by TopDrawerSoccer.com.
= Penn State Nittany Lions =
Abello played five seasons of college soccer at Pennsylvania State University between 2017 and 2021 while also studying as a pre-medical major in biological life sciences and Spanish. A high achiever academically, she enrolled in the Schreyer Honors College and was a four-time CoSIDA Academic All-American including CoSIDA Academic All-American of the Year for the 2020–21 and 2021 seasons, the first student-athlete to earn the distinction twice in soccer for Division I.{{cite web |title=Comfortable in the Chaos: Captain and Honors student Kerry Abello Triumphs in the Classroom and Soccer Field |url=https://gopsusports.com/news/2020/10/8/womens-soccer-comfortable-in-the-chaos-captain-and-honors-student-kerry-abello-triumphs-in-the-classroom-and-soccer-field.aspx |website=Penn State University Athletics|date=October 8, 2020 }}{{cite web |title=2021 Academic All-America NCAA Division I Women's Soccer Team Announced |url=https://academicallamerica.com/news/2021/12/10/2021-academic-all-america-ncaa-division-i-womens-soccer-team-announced.aspx |website=academicallamerica.com}} As a freshman, Abello made 15 appearances for the Nittany Lions all as a substitute and recorded a season-high 45 minutes on August 20 in a game against Hofstra Pride. The team won the 2017 Big Ten Women's Soccer Tournament. Predominantly playing as a forward, Abello became a starter in 2018, starting 19 of 23 appearances, and tallied seven goals and five assists as Penn State clinched the Big Ten regular season title.{{cite web |title=Penn State Women's Soccer Wins Big Ten Regular Season Title |url=https://www.psuunderground.com/2018/10/23/penn-state-womens-soccer-wins-big-ten-regular-season-title/ |website=The Underground |date=October 23, 2018}}{{Dead link|date=December 2023}}{{cite web |title=Kerry Abello Leads Penn State Women's Soccer Past Minnesota 2-0 |url=https://onwardstate.com/2018/10/21/kerry-abello-leads-penn-state-womens-soccer-past-minnesota-2-0/ |website=Onward State |date=October 21, 2018}} As a junior in 2019, Abello transitioned to playing left-back and started all 24 of Penn State's games, scoring eight goals and three assists on the way to earning First Team All-Big Ten honors.{{cite web |title=Big Ten Announces 2019 Women's Soccer Postseason Honors |url=https://bigten.org/news/2019/10/31/big-ten-announces-2019-womens-soccer-postseason-honors.aspx |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210422165841/https://bigten.org/news/2019/10/31/big-ten-announces-2019-womens-soccer-postseason-honors.aspx |url-status=dead |archive-date=April 22, 2021 |website=Big Ten|date=October 31, 2019 }} Ahead of the 2020 season, Abello was named as team captain.{{cite web |title=Penn State women's soccer announces 2020 team captains |url=https://www.soccerwire.com/news/penn-state-womens-soccer-announces-2020-team-captains/ |website=SoccerWire}} Having been selected in the 2021 NWSL Draft, she elected to delay her pro career and return in 2021 to contest both the delayed 2020 season and the 2021 season following the NCAA's offer of an additional year of eligibility in light of the COVID-19 pandemic.{{Cite web |title=NCAA DI Council approves moving fall championships to the spring |url=https://www.ncaa.com/news/ncaa/article/2020-09-16/ncaa-di-council-approves-moving-fall-championships-spring |website=www.ncaa.com}} For the 2020–21 campaign, Abello moved to playing at center-back, making 12 appearances before missing the final four matches due to injury as Penn State won the Big Ten regular season title for the second time in three seasons.{{cite web |title=Penn State Clinches Big Ten Women's Soccer Title |url=https://bigten.org/news/2021/3/28/general-penn-state-clinches-big-ten-womens-soccer-title.aspx |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210329024652/https://bigten.org/news/2021/3/28/general-penn-state-clinches-big-ten-womens-soccer-title.aspx |url-status=dead |archive-date=March 29, 2021 |website=Big Ten Conference|date=March 28, 2021 }} In her fifth and final season, Abello started all 20 games for the Nittany Lions and earned First Team All-Big Ten honors for the second time.
In the 2018 offseason, Abello played a season at center-back with the Chicago Red Stars Reserves in the WPSL.{{cite web |last=Cren |first=Matt Le |title=Statement for the defense: Benet grad Kerry Abello learns new position with Red Stars Reserves |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/ct-nvs-spt-womens-soccer-red-stars-reserves-kerry-abello-st-0624-story.html |website=chicagotribune.com|date=June 23, 2018 }} The team topped the Northern Conference and progressed to the playoff semi-finals before losing to Pensacola FC.
Club career
= Orlando Pride =
On January 13, 2021, Abello was selected in the third round (24th overall) of the 2021 NWSL Draft by Orlando Pride.{{cite web |last=Poe |first=Julia |title=Orlando Pride reinforce midfield, attack with 2021 NWSL draft selections |url=https://www.orlandosentinel.com/sports/orlando-pride-soccer/os-sp-orlando-pride-2021-draft-20210114-hur3gizxlned5iyah56a75p6la-story.html |website=orlandosentinel.com|date=January 14, 2021 }} Having returned to Penn State to exhaust her fifth year of college eligibility during the 2021 season, Abello signed a two-year contract with the team on January 28, 2022, ahead of the 2022 season.{{cite web |title=Orlando Pride Signs Penn State Product Kerry Abello |url=https://www.orlandocitysc.com/news/orlando-pride-signs-penn-state-product-kerry-abello |website=www.orlandocitysc.com}} She made her professional debut on April 3, 2022, as a 61st-minute substitute against Washington Spirit during the 2022 NWSL Challenge Cup.
Abello was the Pride's only field player to appear in all 26 matches (25 starts) in the 2024 regular season as the team claimed the NWSL Shield with the best record in the league.{{cite news|url=https://fbref.com/en/squads/2a6178ac/Orlando-Pride-Stats|title=2024 Orlando Pride Stats|website=FBref.com|access-date=2024-11-24}} She was named to the NWSL Best XI Second Team. She started in the NWSL Championship on November 23, which the Pride won 1–0 against the Washington Spirit.{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/live/2024/nov/23/orlando-pride-v-washington-spirit-nwsl-championship-final-live|title=Orlando Pride 1-0 Washington Spirit: NWSL championship final – live|last=Dure|first=Beau|date=2024-11-23|website=The Guardian|access-date=2024-11-23}}
In May 2025, Abello became the first Pride player to appear in 50 straight matches.{{Cite web |last=orlandocitysc |title=Match Report: Orlando Pride falls 1-0 against Portland Thorns FC {{!}} Orlando Pride |url=https://www.orlandocitysc.com/pride/news/match-report-orlando-pride-falls-1-0-against-portland-thorns-fc |access-date=2025-05-05 |website=orlandocitysc |language=en}}
International career
Abello has been rostered for the United States national teams at under-14, under-15, under-17, under-18 and under-19 levels. In October 2016 she was called up for the under-18 team to play at the 2016 Women's International Cup in Ireland. She attended three training camps with the under-19s in February, May and June 2017. In July 2017, Abello traveled to Australia to play three matches with the under-18s.
In May 2025, Abello received her first call-up to the senior national team.{{cite news|url=https://www.ussoccer.com/stories/2025/05/hayes-names-24-player-uswnt-roster-china-pr-jamaica-naomi-girma|title=Hayes Names 24-Player USWNT Roster for Matches against China PR and Jamaica|date=2025-05-20|publisher=United States Soccer Federation|access-date=2025-05-20}} On June 3, she started in her senior international debut, a 4–0 victory over Jamaica.{{Cite web |date=2025-06-04 |title=USWNT vs. Jamaica score: Ally Sentnor, Lynn Biyendolo score braces in dominant win for USA soccer |url=https://www.cbssports.com/soccer/news/uswnt-vs-jamaica-score-ally-sentnor-lynn-biyendolo-score-braces-in-dominant-win-for-usa-soccer/ |access-date=2025-06-04 |website=CBSSports.com |language=en}}
Personal life
Abello is the daughter of Kim and Oscar Abello. She has two older brothers and one older sister.{{cite web |title=Kerry Abello - 2020-21 Women's Soccer |url=https://gopsusports.com/sports/womens-soccer/roster/season/2020/player/kerry-abello |website=Penn State - Official Athletics Website |access-date=10 January 2025}}
Career statistics
= College summary =
| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center;"
! rowspan="2" |Team ! rowspan="2" |Season ! colspan="3" |Total | |
| Division
!Apps | Goals |
|---|---|
| rowspan="5" |Penn State Nittany Lions |2017 | rowspan="5" |Div. I |15 | 0 |
| 2018
|23 | 7 |
| 2019
|24 | 8 |
| 2020–21
|12 | 0 |
| 2021
|17 | 2 |
| colspan="3" |Total
!91 | 17 |
= Club summary =
{{updated|March 14, 2025}}.{{cite web |title=Kerry Abello - Soccerway |url=https://int.soccerway.com/players/kerry-abello/709464/ |website=soccerway.com}}{{cite web|title=Kerry Abello - NWSL |url=https://www.nwslsoccer.com/players/a79161648fb0412187766de7176ab440/kerry-abello/index |website=nwslsoccer.com}}
| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center;"
! rowspan="2" |Club ! rowspan="2" |Season ! colspan="3" |League ! colspan="2" |Cup{{Efn|Includes the NWSL Challenge Cup}} ! colspan="2" |Playoffs{{Efn|Includes NWSL playoffs}} ! colspan="2" |Other ! colspan="2" |Total | |||||||||
| Division
!Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| rowspan="4" |Orlando Pride
|2022 | rowspan="4" |NWSL |21 | 0 | 3 | 0 | colspan="2" |— | colspan="2" |— | 24 | 0 | ||
| 2023
|20 | 1 | 5 | 0 | colspan="2" |— | colspan="2" |— | 25 | 1 | ||
| 2024
|26 | 1 | colspan="2" |— | 3 | 0 | 2Includes the 2024 NWSL x Liga MX Femenil Summer Cup | 0 | 31 | 1 | |
| 2025
|1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | colspan="2" |— | colspan="2" |— | 2 | 0 | ||
| colspan="3" |Career total
!68 | 2 | 9 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 82 | 2 |
{{Reflist|group=lower-alpha}}
=International=
{{updated|match played June 3, 2025}}
| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" | |||
| National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| rowspan=1|United States
|2025 | 1 | 0 | |
| colspan=2| Total | 1 | 0 |
Honors
Penn State Nittany Lions
- Big Ten Conference regular season: 2018, 2020
- Big Ten Tournament: 2017, 2019
Orlando Pride
- NWSL Shield: 2024{{Cite web |last=NWSL |date=2024-10-07 |title=Orlando Pride Claims 2024 NWSL Shield |url=https://www.nwslsoccer.com/news/orlando-pride-claims-2024-nwsl-shield-presented-by-carmax |access-date=2024-10-09 |website=NWSL}}
- NWSL Championship: 2024
Individual
- CoSIDA Academic All-American of the Year: 2020, 2021
- Big Ten Medal of Honor: 2021{{cite web |title=Abello and Reedy Claim Big Ten Medal of Honor |url=https://gopsusports.com/news/2021/6/10/general-abello-and-reedy-claim-big-ten-medal-of-honor.aspx |website=gopsusports.com |date=June 10, 2021 |publisher=Penn State University |access-date=April 17, 2022}}
- NWSL Best XI Second Team: 2024{{Cite web |last=NWSL |date=2024-11-18 |title=NWSL Announces Winners of 2024 NWSL Best XI Awards, presented by Amazon Prime {{!}} National Women's Soccer League Official Site |url=https://www.nwslsoccer.com/news/nwsl-announces-winners-of-2024-nwsl-best-xi-awards-presented-by-amazon-prime |access-date=2024-11-22 |website=NWSL |language=en}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{NWSL player|a79161648fb0412187766de7176ab440/kerry-abello}}
- [https://gopsusports.com/sports/womens-soccer/roster/kerry-abello/10488 Penn State profile]
- {{sports links}}
{{Orlando Pride squad}}
{{2024 NWSL Teams of the Year}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Abello, Kerry}}
Category:Sportspeople from Elmhurst, Illinois
Category:People from Batavia, Illinois
Category:Soccer players from Illinois
Category:American women's soccer players
Category:Women's association football defenders
Category:Women's association football forwards
Category:Penn State Nittany Lions women's soccer players
Category:Orlando Pride draft picks
Category:Orlando Pride players
Category:Women's Premier Soccer League players
Category:National Women's Soccer League players
Category:Pennsylvania State University alumni
Category:United States women's youth international soccer players