EAST BOSTON, Mass. - Sophomore Kashka Gammon (Nashua, N.H.) tallied a pair of goals for her third straight multiple-goal effort to lead the Simmons College women's soccer team to a 2-0 victory over host Suffolk University this evening in a Great Northeast Athletic Conference match at James A. Sartori Stadium in East Boston, Mass. The Sharks win their fourth straight match for their longest win streak since 2006 and improve to 7-6-0 overall and 6-1-0 in league play to clinch a playoff spot in the GNAC Championship Tournament. The Rams fall to 3-11-0 and 2-5-0.
Each team registered nine shots in the first half, but Simmons dominated the offensive chances with a 10-3 shot advantage. Suffolk owned a 6-3 margin on corner kicks.
Gammon put the Sharks on the board when she scored on a header off a feed from senior midfielder Victoria Russo (Braintree, Mass.) at the 12:55 mark of the first half. The pair connected again in the second half for Simmons' second score of the evening. Russo registered her league-leading ninth assist of the season when she set up Gammon for another header that resulted in her team-high 10th goal of the year and eighth in the last four matches. The marker gave the Sharks a 2-0 margin in the 52nd minute of play.
Sophomore Jennifer Martin (Higganum, Conn.) had Suffolk's best chance to score with five minutes in regulation. After being fouled in the box, Martin was awarded a penalty kick. On the free kick, Martin decided to shoot to her left and the Simmons keeper's right as the senior goalie followed the play and preserved the shutout.
The lead held up, thanks to the Simmons defense, which helped contribute to the team's third shutout in the last four games.
Senior keeper Briana Hayes (Manorville, N.Y.) turned away six shots to record her 15th career shutout for the Sharks, while first year goalie Kirsten Weiker (Durham, N.H.) made 10 saves for the Rams.
Simmons returns to action on Tuesday, October 13 when it crosses the street to meet conference foe Emmanuel College for a 7:00 p.m. match on Clemente Field, while Suffolk hosts Johnson & Wales University on October 12 at 6:45 p.m.