Abby Elinsky

Position:
Midfielder
Height:
5-8
Class:
Junior
Hometown:
Rocky River, Ohio
High School:
Rocky River

ABBY ELINSKY
Dorrance on Abby: According to the competitive cauldron, she is our #1 athlete on the roster • she is competitive and I love the way she fights every second of the game and this will give her an opportunity to sign a pro contract as she has the ability to play at a world class pace for 90 minutes • her dad wrestled at Penn State and she has certainly inherited a competitive fire from him • surgery in the summer time prior to the 2016 season held her back to a slower start than we would have liked but she played a majority of the minutes at the holding center midfield position • due to a family emergency she took off five full games in the middle of the season • she came back to start for us on October 23 in a win at Syracuse, playing forward • with Abby in this position we made our way to the ACC championship as well as the College Cup • she scored one goal in the NCAA Tournament while leading the press on our offensive attack to keep our opponents on their heels.
Junior Year (2016): Extremely versatile performer • moved into starting position at forward, starting there in last 10 games of 2016 season as UNC advanced to College Cup • before that she had been coming off the bench at holding center midfield position for the Tar Heels for most of the season • started four of first 10 games of campaign • missed four games in middle of season, being with her family after death of her brother • one of UNC’s most consistent and durable performers on the roster • played in 21 games, starting 14 times • has recorded 1,035 minutes of playing time • scored the first goal of her Tar Heel career in NCAA first round win versus Liberty.
Sophomore Year (2015): Saw her playing time increase as the 2015 season progressed • missed Miami game after being injured in Clemson match • also sat out the match versus Liberty • versatile player who played both midfield and defense • saw action in 19 games, playing 838 minutes • started five games • assisted on Annie Kingman’s second goal versus Fresno State for her first career point in a UNC uniform • season high for minutes played was 90 versus both Notre Dame and Texas A&M.
Freshman Year at University of Illinois (2014): Named to All-Big Ten Freshman Team • started all 20 games on the year, playing 1,684 minutes • tied for third with five other Illini for most goals on the season with two • was seventh on the team in total points with five • ranked fourth on the team in shots with 26 and third on the squad with 10 shots on goal • scored goals in first two games as an Illini against Notre Dame (Aug. 22) and Louisville (Aug. 24) • notched game-winning goal against Louisville (Aug. 24) • had her first and only assist against Michigan State (Oct. 24) which led to an Emily Osoba goal.
High School: 2013-14 Gatorade Ohio Girls Soccer Player of the Year • NSCAA All-America • led the Cleveland United Soccer Club to the U.S. youth soccer national championship • scored the golden goal in double overtime to beat Match Fit Chelsea Beat (N.J.), 2-1 • earned Top 11 honors as one of the top 11 players at nationals • club team also took third at nationals in 2012 • led the Rocky River Pirates to a 22-0-1 record and their first-ever state championship in 2013 • scored the game-winning goal and recorded an assist in the 3-1 state title game victory over Granville as a senior • notched a school record 43 goals and 19 assists during her senior season and finished her career with 108 goals and 49 assists • earned the OSSCA Miss Soccer Award, Division II Player of the Year honors and the cleveland.com Girls Soccer Player of the Year award • first-team OSSCA all-state selection in 2013 • earned varsity letters during all four years and was the West Shore Conference MVP as a senior • was on the honor roll all four years.
Personal: Full name is Sydney Abigail Elinsky • goes by Abby • stands 5-8 tall • born January 8, 1996 in West Chester, Pa. • parents are Greg and Renee Elinsky • three siblings include the late Nick Elinsky as well as Anna and Giovanni • father, Greg, was a wrestler at Penn State • uncle, Mike, was a wrestler at Auburn and North Carolina • exercise & sport science major (sports administration sequence) • pursuing a minor in entrepreneurship • hobbies outside of soccer include tennis, skiing, ice skating, yoga, running, lifting, eating and napping • her dad most influenced her athletic career because as an athlete himself he is very helpful and supportive of her soccer career and reminds her that she can do whatever she sets her mind to and working hard at everything she does is important to be successful.