Simmons Soccer wrapped up their 2008 season after a heartbreaking loss to Norwich on a penalty kick in the Great Northeast Athletic Conference tournament quarterfinals on November 2. The Sharks finished with an overall 6-12-1 record, and a 5-7 record in the GNAC. Anya Bottaro (Winchester, Mass.), Brooke MacKenzie (Mansfield, Mass.), Katie Foley (Rochester, N.H.) and Kelly Muirhead (Middleboro, Mass.) each earned end-of-the-season GNAC All-Conference honors.

Head Coach Erica Mastrogiacomo described the season as having ups and downs. She is already planning for a more consistent and aggressive style of play to take the team forward in 2009. "Too many times this season we waited until the second half to really start playing with our opponents. We are thinking positively for next fall and will once again be on the hunt for a GNAC crown."

Mastrogiacomo notes the efforts of her upperclassmen to make new freshmen players feel at home on the team, and "created an environment that provided a great balance of encouragement with challenge. The team was united around our goals and we were very resilient at crucial times in the season."

Several athletes stood out with phenomenal efforts in 2008. Sophomore midfielder MacKenzie led the team in goals (13) and assists (3) to finish the season with a total of 29 points. Junior goalkeeper Rachel Elliot (Amherst, N.H.) was a rock for the Sharks in goal. "Rachel provided a loud voice that instilled confidence among her peers," said Mastrogiacomo. "Other conference coaches made it a point after each game to say how skillful and athletic she is in the net." Elliot played 1608:55 minutes for Simmons, allowing just 33 goals and racking up 149 saves with a .819 save percentage.

Sophomore forward Allie Megna (North Hampton, N.H.) started all nineteen games and tallied 2 goals and 3 assists for the season. "Allie has the ability to control the tempo of a match with her play, and it grew more consistent throughout the season," said Mastrogiacomo. Megna was a presence in the midfield, and along with junior midfielder Emily DiNuovo (Palmer, Mass.), Bottaro and Kelley Saucier (Waterville, Maine) provided precision ball-handling maneuvers.

In all, Mastrogiacomo and the Sharks have a positive outlook for 2009. "I am proud of every individual as they all showed up to training prepared to learn and be challenged," said Mastrogiacomo. "Losing only two seniors this year is a positive for the Sharks. We will hopefully return all other eighteen players to put a more experienced and organized team on the field next fall."