KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Four Nittany Lion women's soccer players garnered All-North Region honors as announced by the United Soccer Coaches today. Senior Kaleigh Riehl, junior Sam Coffey and freshman Ally Schlegel all earned first-team accolades. Junior Kerry Abello was named to the All-North Region second team for her accomplishments this season.
Redshirt senior Kaleigh Riehl earns the third All-Region honor of her career. Riehl was named to first team All-North Region in 2018 and second team All-Midwest Region in 2017. Riehl was a four-time All-Big Ten honoree and in 2018 was named Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year. Also in 2018, Riehl was a first team All-America selection, a United Soccer Coaches Scholar All-America second team selection and a MAC Hermann Trophy semifinalist. Riehl finished her career as the NCAA all-time leader in minutes played by a position player with 8,847 minutes played and finished her career with the third most starts and appearances in Penn State history (101). She was a key member of the 2015 national championship run as she earned All-Tournament team honors. Riehl is also eligible for Academic All-America recognition following her receiving first team Academic All-District recognition earlier this year.
Junior Sam Coffey earns the second All-Region honor of her career. In her first season in Happy Valley, Coffey scored 11 goals and dished out 10 assists en route to earning first team All-Big Ten plaudits. Coffey finished second on the team with 11 goals, 10 assists and 32 points. In 2018, Coffey was named a first team All-American, ACC Midfielder of the Year and a MAC Hermann trophy semifinalist.
Redshirt freshman Ally Schlegel earns the first All-Region honor of her career. Schlegel tied for the Big Ten lead with 13 goals and registered seven assists in her first season of competition. Schlegel was named the Big Ten Freshman of the Year, first team All-Big Ten and All-Freshman Team for her breakout freshman campaign. Prior to Schlegel, the last Nittany Lion freshman to win Big Ten Freshman of the Year was Emily Ogle in 2014.
Junior Kerry Abello brought home her second All-Region honor of her Penn State career. Abello was named to the All-North Region third team in 2018. Abello finished third on the team with eight goals and added three assists. Abello was named a first team All-Big Ten selection earlier this year. Abello is currently up for Academic All-American status following her earning CoSIDA Academic All-District honors for the second time. Abello was a second team Academic All-American in 2018.
This is the second-consecutive year four Nittany Lions have earned All-Region honors (2018 - Riehl, Ogle, Abello, Frankie Tagliaferri). Since head coach Erica Dambach's first season in 2007, the Nittany Lions have earned 51 All-Region honors.
