Murray Merits AEC Field Hockey Defensive Player of the Week Award
Lancaster, Pa. – (10/11/2021) – Recording an assist and three defensive saves in Gwynedd Mercy University's 2-1 victory over Arcadia University (October 6), before tallying the only goal of the Griffins' 1-0 Atlantic East Conference (AEC) and Senior Day win over Immaculata University (October 9), senior Kaci Murray (Chalfont, Pa.) was named the AEC Field Hockey Defensive Player of the Week (AEC Field Hockey Weekly Report, 10/11/2021) by the league office. Murray finished Gwynedd Mercy University's 2-0 week with three points, two shots, and three defensive saves.
On Wednesday, October 6, Gwynedd Mercy University (3-9, 1-0) overcame a 24-3 deficit in penalty corners and a 26-3 shot disparity to defeat Arcadia University (4-8) by a 2-1 final. Freshman attack Cheyenne Avellino (Egg Harbor, N.J.) and senior attack Lauren Jani (Coopersburg, Pa.) both found the back of the cage in the Griffin victory as Avellino recorded her first collegiate goal, tying the contest at 1-1 (23:29) with a successful strike off the rebound of a shot from senior attack Caitlyn Thornton (Ivyland Pa.) and a feed from Jani.
Not long after halftime, Gwynedd Mercy University took the advantage found Jani for a successful backhand strike, 2-1 (38:22). Arcadia University continued to control the ball for the remainder of the contest, but the Griffin defense held, supporting a brilliant performance from freshman goalkeeper Morgan Lawless (Bristol, Pa.) (2-9, 8 saves) with seven defensive saves; Murray recorded three of them.
