CAREER NOTES & RECORDS
Career: Ranks in the program top ten in career games played (142)...Became one of 23 Nittany Lions at the time to play in 100 career games (Mercyhurst, 2/15/19).
2019-20 • SENIOR SEASON
Season: Named an alternate captain...Played in 35 games with four goals and five points...Scored one game-winning goal...Ranked third among team forwards with 23 blocked shots.
at Vermont (11/29): Posted first career two-goal game in a 4-0 win. New Hampshire (1/3): Notched an unassisted goal, the eventual game winner, in a 3-0 win. Lindenwood (1/11): Recorded the primary assist on the game-winning goal. Robert Morris (2/8): Scored her fourth goal of the season 2:10 into the first period of a 2-2 tie.
2018-19 • JUNIOR SEASON
Awards: Earned Academic All-Big Ten Team honors…Named to CHA All-Academic Team.
Season: Played in all 36 games, including her 100th career game 2/15 vs. Mercyhurst…Recorded five goals and four assists for nine points…Tied for second among team forwards with 33 blocked shots.
at No. 5 Colgate (9/29): Scored the game-winning goal to seal a 4-2 win over the highest-ranked opponent the Nittany Lions had ever beaten. Union (10/12-13): Registered a goal and an assist in two-game series. at RPI (11/16): Picked up two assists in 4-0 win. vs. RIT (3/6): Notched game-winning short-handed goal in a 4-1 win in CHA First Round game.
2017-18 • SOPHOMORE SEASON
Season: Played in all 36 games…Finished season with seven points on three goals and four assists…Posted three points in final six games of the season.
Union (1/7): Recorded her first assist of season. at Robert Morris (1/26): Scored her first goal of season. RIT (2/16-17): Notched assist in 4-1 win in game one…Recorded game-winning goal in 2-0 win in game two. vs. Lindenwood (3/1): Netted game-tying goal in the third period of eventual 2-1 win in first round of CHA Tournament.
2016-17 • FRESHMAN SEASON
Season: Played in all 35 games…Netted nine points on three goals and six assists...Recorded two multi-point games.
at Union (10/7): Recorded first career point on an assist in 8-1 win. Boston (10/15): Tallied first career goal. at RIT (10/28): Had first multi-point game with goal and assist in 5-0 win. Mercyhurst (1/28): Picked up two assists.
PRIOR TO PENN STATE
Played four seasons with the Nichols Vikings, posting a 112-25-14 record...Notched 103 points (47G, 56A) in 151 games played...Played two seasons with the Niagara Junior Purple Eagles...Netted 97 points (43G, 54A) in 81 games played…Won New York State Championship six times…Made six appearances at the USA Hockey National Championships...Won NAPHA (North American Prep Hockey Association) championship three times...Won Conference of Independent Schools Athletic Association (CISAA) Canadian championship three times...Named Buffalo News 2015-16 Female Prep Talk Hockey Player of the Year...Named a NAPHA All-League honoree...Attended the 2014 and 2015 USA Hockey National Select U-18 Camps...Attended the 2013 USA Hockey Select U-15 National Camp...Played with Nittany Lion alumna Kelly Seward ('17) for Nichols Vikings during 2012-13 season.
PERSONAL
Full name is Abby Ireland Welch...Parents are Scott and Patricia Welch...Has three older sisters, Haley, Kelsey, and Madison who all played ice hockey...Haley played for Union, Kelsey played for Mercyhurst, and Madison played for Syracuse…Graduated with a degree in rehabilitation and human services with a minor in elementary education...Born June 24, 1998, in East Amherst, New York.
Career: Ranks in the program top ten in career games played (142)...Became one of 23 Nittany Lions at the time to play in 100 career games (Mercyhurst, 2/15/19).
2019-20 • SENIOR SEASON
Season: Named an alternate captain...Played in 35 games with four goals and five points...Scored one game-winning goal...Ranked third among team forwards with 23 blocked shots.
at Vermont (11/29): Posted first career two-goal game in a 4-0 win. New Hampshire (1/3): Notched an unassisted goal, the eventual game winner, in a 3-0 win. Lindenwood (1/11): Recorded the primary assist on the game-winning goal. Robert Morris (2/8): Scored her fourth goal of the season 2:10 into the first period of a 2-2 tie.
2018-19 • JUNIOR SEASON
Awards: Earned Academic All-Big Ten Team honors…Named to CHA All-Academic Team.
Season: Played in all 36 games, including her 100th career game 2/15 vs. Mercyhurst…Recorded five goals and four assists for nine points…Tied for second among team forwards with 33 blocked shots.
at No. 5 Colgate (9/29): Scored the game-winning goal to seal a 4-2 win over the highest-ranked opponent the Nittany Lions had ever beaten. Union (10/12-13): Registered a goal and an assist in two-game series. at RPI (11/16): Picked up two assists in 4-0 win. vs. RIT (3/6): Notched game-winning short-handed goal in a 4-1 win in CHA First Round game.
2017-18 • SOPHOMORE SEASON
Season: Played in all 36 games…Finished season with seven points on three goals and four assists…Posted three points in final six games of the season.
Union (1/7): Recorded her first assist of season. at Robert Morris (1/26): Scored her first goal of season. RIT (2/16-17): Notched assist in 4-1 win in game one…Recorded game-winning goal in 2-0 win in game two. vs. Lindenwood (3/1): Netted game-tying goal in the third period of eventual 2-1 win in first round of CHA Tournament.
2016-17 • FRESHMAN SEASON
Season: Played in all 35 games…Netted nine points on three goals and six assists...Recorded two multi-point games.
at Union (10/7): Recorded first career point on an assist in 8-1 win. Boston (10/15): Tallied first career goal. at RIT (10/28): Had first multi-point game with goal and assist in 5-0 win. Mercyhurst (1/28): Picked up two assists.
PRIOR TO PENN STATE
Played four seasons with the Nichols Vikings, posting a 112-25-14 record...Notched 103 points (47G, 56A) in 151 games played...Played two seasons with the Niagara Junior Purple Eagles...Netted 97 points (43G, 54A) in 81 games played…Won New York State Championship six times…Made six appearances at the USA Hockey National Championships...Won NAPHA (North American Prep Hockey Association) championship three times...Won Conference of Independent Schools Athletic Association (CISAA) Canadian championship three times...Named Buffalo News 2015-16 Female Prep Talk Hockey Player of the Year...Named a NAPHA All-League honoree...Attended the 2014 and 2015 USA Hockey National Select U-18 Camps...Attended the 2013 USA Hockey Select U-15 National Camp...Played with Nittany Lion alumna Kelly Seward ('17) for Nichols Vikings during 2012-13 season.
PERSONAL
Full name is Abby Ireland Welch...Parents are Scott and Patricia Welch...Has three older sisters, Haley, Kelsey, and Madison who all played ice hockey...Haley played for Union, Kelsey played for Mercyhurst, and Madison played for Syracuse…Graduated with a degree in rehabilitation and human services with a minor in elementary education...Born June 24, 1998, in East Amherst, New York.