AUSTIN, Texas – Penn State women's soccer captain Kerry Abello headlined the list of 2020-21 CoSIDA Academic All-Americans as the senior defender was named the CoSIDA Women's Soccer Academic All-American of the Year as announced by the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) Monday. All three Nittany Lion captains for the 2020-21 season were selected to Academic All-America teams, the most honorees in a single year in program history. Abello and Sam Coffey were named to the Academic All-America first team, and Frankie Tagliaferri was tabbed for the third team.
Abello possesses a 4.0 cumulative grade-point average with majors in science and Spanish. She is first Nittany Lion from the women's soccer program named an Academic All-American of the Year, the fifth woman from Penn State to earn the honor and 10th overall individual. Matt Brown (at-large, wrestling, 2015), Katie Slay (women's volleyball, 2013), Megan Hodge (women's volleyball, 2009), Paul Posluszny (football, 2006), Kelly Mazzante (women's basketball, 2004), Bonnie Bremner (women's volleyball, 1998 & 1999), John Amaechi (men's basketball, 1995), Byron Schneider (at-large, men's volleyball, 1994) and James Martin (at-large, wrestling, 1988 & 1989) also represented Penn State as CoSIDA Academic All-Americans of the Year.
Penn State ranks No. 4 among all Division I institutions with 211 CoSIDA Academic All-Americans all-time, including men's soccer Academic All-American Pierre Reedy, who was also honored for the 2020-21 year.
From Batavia, Illinois, Abello is the second Nittany Lion to earn first-team Academic All-America accolades in multiple years, joining Joanna Lohman, a three-time selection (2001, 2002, 2003). With Abello and Coffey both voted to the first team, Penn State has its multiple first-team Academic All-America members since 2001 when Lohman and Emily Oleksiuk were both named to the first team.
Abello, Coffey and Tagliaferri helped lead Penn State to a 2020-21 Big Ten regular-season championship, marking the third league titles for Abello and Tagliaferri in their careers as Nittany Lions while Coffey picked up her second Big Ten championship in her second year with the program. Penn State posted a 10-match unbeaten streak in Big Ten regular-season action and advanced to the NCAA Tournament for the 26th-straight year.
Penn State's female Medal of Honor recipient for 2020-21, Abello was also chosen the institution's Outstanding Sportsmanship Award winner and was named a Senior CLASS second-team All-American. She is a Schreyer Honors College Scholar and a member of the Penn State Presidential Leadership Academy.
The Big Ten Midfielder of the Year, Coffey earned her degree in journalism in fall 2020 and embarked on her graduate degree, carrying a 4.0 cumulative GPA. A first-team All-American and Scholar All-American in 2020-21, she was also selected as a Senior CLASS first-team All-American. From Sleepy Hollow, New York, Coffey is a three-time all-region and all-conference pick.
Tagliaferri (Colts Neck, New Jersey) was a United Soccer Coaches second-team All-American and earned All-Big Ten honors for the fourth time following the 2020-21 season. She posted a 3.66 cumulative GPA and graduated with her degree in kinesiology. The United Coaches second-team All-America pick earned All-North Region laurels for the second time in 2020-21.
The Academic All-America program, which requires nominees to possess a minimum cumulative grade-point average of 3.3, recognizes the nation's top student-athletes for their combined performances on the field and in the classroom. Nominees are voted on by members of CoSIDA to determine the All-American of the Year and first, second and third teams, comprised of 11 individuals each. Four Nittany Lions were included among the 15 selections for all-district honors, the highest total in a single season in program history, and advanced to the All-America stage of voting.
