Junior forward Brooke MacKenzie (Mansfield, Mass.) led Simmons Soccer to a 3-0 victory over host Pine Manor in the Great Northeast Athletic Conference season-opener Wednesday afternoon. MacKenzie found the back of the net twice for the Sharks, along with one goal from freshman Justine Beauchamp (Exeter, N.H.). All three goals came in a 3:19 span midway through the first half. Simmons improves to 2-0 overall (1-0 GNAC), while the Gators fall to 0-1.

After an evenly played contest in the opening minutes, Simmons seized control 15 minutes into play. After 18:48 into the contest, Sharks midfielder Anna Stella (Sharon, Mass.) connected on an assist to MacKenzie, who knocked one in past Pine Manor goalkeeper Coleen Tencza from 15 yards into the lower right net to commence the scoring. A loose ball following a Beauchamp corner kick deflected to MacKenzie just 62 seconds later, who beat Tencza, this time from 20 yards to the top right of the net to take a 2-0 advantage. Beauchamp concluded the attack with an even deeper goal into the top right corner, ending a 3-0 run in 3:19, which was more than enough for three Sharks goalkeepers to combine on the shutout.

Pine Manor regrouped their attack in the second half. Vanessa Kelly streaked on a one-on-one breakaway down the right wing and fired a low shot to the bottom right of the net. Simmons keeper Ashley Wheeler (Nashua, N.H.) dove to her left to make a sprawling, two-handed save and keep the Sharks shutout in tact. All three Sharks goalkeepers saw action, with freshman Ashley Donaghey (Framingham, Mass.) making her collegiate debut with 27 minutes and 2 saves in the net for Simmons, and senior keeper Rachel Elliot (Amherst, N.H.) with one save.

"We played hard even when we tired, and once again the character of this team stood out," said head Coach Erica Mastrogiacomo. "Pine Manor put us in some pressure situations and we stood our ground and did not allow a goal. Today was not our best looking soccer, but in the end we still got the victory. We will need to get some rest and regroup to get ready for DeSales on Saturday."

The Sharks outshot the Gators 20-8 and 13-4 in shots on goal on the day. MacKenzie and Beauchamp combined for 7 shots on goal, while junior Lindsey Butler (south Weymouth, Mass.) had 2.

Simmons will return to action on Saturday, September 5 at home when they take on DeSales at 1:00 PM.