This fall, Gorham will have two graduates playing women’s soccer at the NCAA Division I level. Emma Forgues will be playing for the University of Maine at Orono while Hallie Shiers is headed to Merrimack College in North Andover, MA. When deciding where to attend college, both were looking for the right fit as far as athletics and academics.

After a long process of visiting colleges throughout her high school career, Forgues met Coach Atherley at UMaine during her junior year and fell in love. She said, “It gave the homey feel that I had been missing.” She said she knew it was the place where she not only wanted to play soccer, but be academically successful as well. Two weeks later she committed to play soccer there.

Last summer, Shiers had narrowed her college choices down to three schools, with Merrimack being her top choice. However, the college did not offer her intended major of nursing. She continued to look at other schools because she felt that academics should come before athletics, but she kept coming back to Merrimack, its soccer team and its coaches.

“They were just short of checking off all my boxes because they didn’t offer nursing as a major,” she said. However, she soon learned that Merrimack would be adding a nursing program in the fall of 2019. “After hearing this I figured it was just meant to be, and I wanted to go there. After staying in contact with Merrimack through the spring of my junior year and a bit during the summer, I called Coach Mejail at the end of August and committed,” she shared.

Forgues predominantly played midfield, and Shiers played mostly in the forward position over the course of their soccer careers at Gorham. They were both instrumental to the offense and key to goal scoring, especially in big games. Both were named to the All Conference and All State teams, and Forgues was chosen as an All New England player this season.

Forgues and Shiers both have fond memories of playing soccer while growing up. Forgues said, “My favorite memories are being able to meet some of my best friends and getting to play with them for so many years. It made soccer that much more enjoyable for me.” She has had the opportunity to travel to Florida, Colorado, Virginia, and California to play the sport.

Shiers’ favorite memories stem from going to the state finals her freshman and sophomore years, and playing soccer as a child. She said, “I have been lucky enough to play with Emma and some of our other teammates for the past 10 years, from GYSA all the way up through high school. Getting to watch everyone grow, improve, and succeed the way they have is so exciting and sentimental to me. I have become friends with people that I probably never would have if it weren’t for soccer. I have had coaches that have made huge impacts on my life and been extremely influential mentors that I will always look up to and respect.”

They have each had many inspirations that got them to where they are today. Forgues’ biggest inspiration has been her teammates. “I absolutely loved being able to watch my teammates especially as I got to be an upperclassman; being able to see them grow over the years on and off the field. They inspired me to work harder,” she said.

Shiers said her biggest inspiration has been her mom. “She is the hardest working person I know and has done so much to support and encourage me. All the times that I wanted to give up on something, she has found a way to push me to keep me going and working hard. I can’t thank her enough for everything she does to make sure that I have a good and successful life,” she said.

They are also looking forward to what comes next for them and are both excited to start a new chapter of their lives doing something they love. The only nerve-wracking part is the enhanced level of physicality that comes with playing a sport at the college level.

Forgues said she is most excited to play with the girls on the Maine team as they are so nice and welcoming. She is also looking forward to playing for Coach Atherley. Her goal in playing at UMaine is to be able to compete at a level that will challenge her and continue to develop her skills as a soccer player. “I know Coach Atherley will do that,” she said. Forgues has spent a lot of time in the gym getting ready for that level of competition and she is focused on staying in shape and getting stronger but also keeping her foot on the ball as much as she can.