No. 21 Penn State women’s soccer beat Minnesota 2-0 on a windy senior day at Jeffrey Field Sunday.

Sophomore winger Kerry Abello scored the game-winning goal in the 13th minute, then added some insurance in the 69th with another left-footed strike.

How It Happened

Abello’s sixth goal of the season was a thing of beauty. She corralled a long pass from Alina Ortega Jurado and crossed up a few Golden Gophers before firing a perfect shot just inside the top right corner of the net.

Ortega Jurado was honored pregame alongside the rest of Penn State’s senior class, including Charlotte Williams, Marissa Sheva, and captains Maddie Nolf and Emily Ogle.

Williams tallied an assist on Abello’s second goal of the afternoon, finding her with a nicely timed through ball in the left side of the box. Williams tied Shea Moyer for the team lead in assists with her sixth on the play.

The Nittany Lions continued their outstanding play on defense, earning the team’s ninth shutout of the season. Junior goalkeeper Amanda Dennis didn’t need to make any saves in the victory — Penn State’s seventh in a row.

“She’s a beast,” Nolf said of Abello. “She stepped up in big moments. The coaches have been talking about making plays and I think she did a very good job of that. When she had the opportunity, she put the ball in the back of the net.”

Player of the Match

Kerry Abello | Winger

The Batavia, Illinois, native is now tied with Frankie Tagliaferri and Kristin Schnurr for the team lead in goals with seven.

“Kerry Abello is as dangerous as it comes in the Big Ten, and you saw it today,” head coach Erica Dambach said. “I think she’s gotten better as the season’s gone on.”

What’s Next?

The Nittany Lions (13-5) have a week off before facing an undetermined opponent in the Big Ten tournament quarterfinals next Sunday.