WINTHROP, Mass. – Simmons College's Kashka Gammon (Nashua, N.H.) was named to the Great Northeast Athletic Conference Women's Soccer First Team, while Cíara Forde (Quincy, Mass.) was selected to the Second Team and Tasha Friedman (Phoenix, Ariz.), Jessie Pratt (Westfield, Mass.) and Rachel Gilbert (Falmouth, Mass.) were all tabbed to the Third Team it was announced today by the league. Senior Elise Nothacker (Philadelphia, Pa.) was selected to the GNAC All-Sportsmanship Team.
The five Sharks named to the All-Conference squad is the highest number of honorees from Simmons since six were named to the 2013 team.
Gammon earns a spot on the First Team after registering 21 points in 19 matches on seven goals and seven assists. Her assist total stands as the sixth-most in a season in school history. The center midfielder did most of her point-scoring against conference opponents, ranking sixth among GNAC players with 19 points in league play, including five assists, which was the second-most of any league player in conference competition. The junior netted all three of her game-winning scores vs. GNAC foes for the fourth-most in the league. The Sharks posted a 6-0-0 record when Gammon tallied at least one point in conference contests. A graduate of Hollis Brookline High School, Gammon enjoyed a three-match stretch from September 28 to October 5 where she collected eight points on three goals and two assists vs. a trio of GNAC opponents. The Nursing major started all 19 games and notched at least one point in eight of them, including a season-high of five with a pair of goals and an assist in a 5-0 victory at Mount Ida College on October 10.
The three-year player has started 49 of 56 career matches, while racking up 57 points on 23 goals, including eight game-winners, and 11 assists. She was named a GNAC Second Teamer last season after scoring a career-best 11 goals.
Forde enjoyed a breakout sophomore campaign for Simmons, tying for the most goals on the team with seven and ranking second with 18 points and four assists. The midfielder started all 19 contests and placed 11th among conference players with 13 points and five goals in conference-only matches. Forde tallied at least one point in seven matches and netted the Sharks' lone goal in a 3-1 defeat in the GNAC Championship Tournament Quarterfinals at Saint Joseph's College (Maine) on October 30. The North Quincy High School product recorded multiple goals on two occasions, including a pair of scores to go with an assist for a career-high five points vs. Rivier University on September 10.
In two seasons at Simmons, Forde has gotten the starting nod in all but three of her 38 matches, while totaling 23 points on nine goals and five assists.
Friedman concludes her four-year tenure with the Sharks with a spot on the Third Team as a defender. The center back started all 16 matches for Simmons and consistently took direct kicks for the Sharks with 15 shots, including 10 on frame. The senior was an integral part of the Sharks' defense that allowed more than two goals just twice for the entire season.
The Arcadia High School graduate has been a four-year starter for Simmons, drawing a start in 55 of 61 career tilts, while collecting three points on a goal and an assist. The Communications/Media Arts major's intensity has also translated to the classroom, where she was recognized by the GNAC following last season with a spot on the All-Academic Team.
Pratt has been one of the program's best defenders during her three-year career with the Sharks. She earns a spot on the GNAC Third Team after serving as the team's lockdown defender on the backline. The back started all 19 matches and notched her first career point with an assist in a 3-0 victory at University of Saint Joseph (Conn.) on October 22. The junior helped the Simmons defense post a 1.18 goals against average to rank fourth among GNAC teams in 2016.
A graduate of Westfield High School, Pratt is the only player on the roster, who has started all 57 of the team's matches over the past three seasons. She was named to the GNAC All-Academic squad last year in her first year eligible for the honor.
Gilbert has made an impact right away in just her first season of collegiate soccer with her Third Team selection. The forward tied for the team lead with seven goals and ranks third with 17 points, including three assists and was named GNAC Rookie of the Week twice as one of two conference players to earn the accolade multiple times. The first year player was one of the top rookies in the conference, leading all newcomers in points and goals, while ranking sixth among GNAC leaders with all seven of her markers coming in conference play. The Falmouth High School graduate started two of 16 matches and was the most efficient shooter in the league with a conference-best 91.3% of her shots directed on net and 30.4% of her shots resulting in a goal, which stands as the second-highest mark among league leaders. The rookie also recorded a pair of multi-goal efforts and scored in back-to-back 3-0 victories over Anna Maria College and University of Saint Joseph.
Simmons finished the season with an 8-9-2 record, including 7-4-0 in GNAC play to earn the fifth seed in the conference tournament. The Sharks' season came to an end with a 3-1 defeat to Saint Joseph's College (Maine) in the conference quarterfinals.