GWYNEDD VALLEY, PA. – Gwynedd-Mercy held off Penn State-Abington, 3-2, Monday evening to win their third-straight contest.

Junior Dan Panepresso (Philadelphia, Pa./Archbishop Ryan) netted a pair of goals while junior Tyler Ward (Philadelphia, Pa./North Catholic) added a score and an assist for the Griffins (5-10-1).

The Nittany Lions (9-2) almost got on the board early in the contest but PSU could not convert the 2-on-1 after a defensive lapse by the Griffins. It stayed scoreless into the half with PSU having a 5-3 shot advantage.

In the second, it was the Gwynedd who struck early as Panepresso was able to put over a centering pass from Ward past Lion goalie James Carlin 49 seconds into the stanza. Just over 10 minutes later, Panepresso struck again, this time beating Carlin on a breakaway after getting a nice through ball from junior Trevor Sotell (Cinnaminson, N.J./Cinnaminson).

Joshua Clinger made it 2-1 in the 67th minute as he was able to dribble in the box and beat Matt Chilcote (Carlisle, Pa./Cumberland Valley).

Sotell would set up Ward on a cross right across the goal mouth where Ward easily redirected it in for a two-goal lead once again with 11:12 left in the game. Gwynedd escaped a prime chance from the Lions as a free kick from Phillip Curry from 25 yards out hit the right post. The rebound came right to the foot of Marco Paparo but his shot went high over the crossbar.

Penn State-Abington, persisted and found paydirt soon after as Matt Howard played a cross into the right side of the box and sent a shot to the far left post in the 83rd minute and once again it was a one-goal game.
GM had seven shots in the second compared to PSU's 12.

Chilcote, who entered in goal in the second half, made three saves to pick up the win. Carlin finished with two stops for the Lions.

Gwynedd-Mercy travels to Keystone for a CSAC matchup on Wednesday. The game will be played at Misericordia University starting at 8:30 p.m.