WVU Sports Hall of Fame

Inducted: 2017

Written by Bryan Messerly

Chrissie Abbott (Bolan) was the first WVU women’s soccer player to earn first team All-America honors from the NSCAA and Soccer Buzz in 2002.

Playing at WVU from 2000-03, Abbott scored 20 goals in 2002 and dished out seven assists for a program-best 47 points while leading her team to its first-ever NCAA Tournament win.

Abbott completed her record-setting career at West Virginia by leading the Mountaineers to the NCAA Sweet 16 in 2003 with a team-high 13 goals and eight assists. She became women’s soccer’s most decorated alumna, earning five career records during her tenure. Abbott graduated as WVU’s career goals (53), points (125), shots (472), matches played (87) and matches started (87) leader.

Abbott was the first Mountaineer to be named a M.A.C. Hermann Trophy (college soccer’s version of the Heisman Trophy) nominee in 2003 and finished as a semifinalist in the voting process.

She was the 2002 Big East Offensive Player of the Year, marking the third consecutive season that the award was earned by a Mountaineer.

In program history, no Mountaineer scored more game-winning goals (22) than Abbott. She was captain of the 2003 WVU squad.

Along with teammate and current associate head coach Lisa Stoia, Abbott was a 2003 member of the U-21 National Team Pool and a member of a select group of collegians invited to train with WUSA teams during the summer of 2003, working with the Philadelphia Charge and Carolina Courage.

Abbott, a second team Soccer Buzz and NSCAA All-American in 2003, was the co-winner of the 2004 Red Brown Cup, given to WVU’s most all-around outstanding student-athlete.

A native of North Olmsted, Ohio, Abbott earned her bachelor’s degree in secondary mathematics from WVU in 2004 and a master’s degree from WVU in educational leadership in 2006.

Abbott and her husband, Scott Bolan, have two children, Miles (3) and Jay (1). Since graduation, she has taught mathematics at New Albany High in New Albany, Ohio.