Tennessee soccer leading scorer Kameron Simmonds transfers to play for Brian Pensky at Florida State

Sophomore forward Kameron Simmonds is transferring to Florida State, marking the third Tennessee soccer starter to follow former coach Brian Pensky, who led the Seminoles to an NCAA title in 2023.

Simmonds started in all 18 games she appeared in this season and led the Lady Vols with eight goals – including the game-winner at Vanderbilt that clinched Tennessee's spot in the SEC Tournament – and 19 points. She also had three assists and took the second-most shots behind junior midfielder Jordan Fusco, who announced she is transferring to Penn State on Dec. 10.

"I couldn't be more thrilled to announce that I will be transferring to Florida State University," Simmonds wrote Monday on Instagram. "I'm so excited for this new opportunity and next chapter in my life and soccer career ... Huge thank you to my friends, teammates and especially the coaches and staff at Tennessee for all the love and support this past year and a half. Tennessee will forever have a special place in my heart."

Simmonds and Fusco were the top two returners for UT, which made a run to the second round of the NCAA Tournament in 2023.

Simmonds made her international debut this year with the Jamaican women's national team and made the 2023 FIFA World Cup roster. The Reggae Girlz made history this summer as the first Caribbean nation to advance to the Round of 16. Simmonds scored her first goal with the senior women's team against Czech Republic at the 2023 Cup of Nations.

Simmonds was recruited during Pensky's tenure at Tennessee, but never got to play for him. Pensky took the job at Florida State in the spring of 2022 before Simmonds got to Knoxville.

A year ago, Tennessee lost its top player, Taylor Huff, who transferred to Florida State to play for Pensky. Starting defender Claire Rain also transferred to FSU with Huff, though she got injured in the season opener. But Huff, who was a First Team All-SEC and Third Team All-America selection in 2022, immediately started and helped lead the Seminoles to their fourth national championship since 2014.

After Pensky's departure in 2022, Tennessee opted to promote longtime assistant coach Joe Kirt. Pensky left UT after a historically successful season, and the Lady Vols struggled to replicate the same success under Kirt in his first season with 10 returning starters.

Tennessee finished with a 9-7-4 record and tied for eighth in the SEC. The Lady Vols were hampered by season-ending injuries, though they made it further in the NCAA Tournament than last season.

Cora Hall covers University of Tennessee women’s athletics. Email her at cora.hall@knoxnews.com and follow her on Twitter @corahalll. If you enjoy Cora’s coverage, consider a digital subscription that allows you to access all of it.