GWYNEDD VALLEY, PA. – Gwynedd-Mercy survived the elements in rallying to defeat Susquehanna, 4-3, in the Griffins' home opener Tuesday afternoon.

GM (1-1) persevered through two two-goal deficits and a 20-minute delay due to lightning in the second half.

Senior Kelsey Deveney (Dalton, Pa./Lackawanna Trail) scored twice and added an assist, including the go-ahead tally with less than four minutes in the game.  

In a wild first half, Susquehanna (2-1) struck early, as Brodie Ercole netted the first of her two goals on the day as she took advantage of a defensive misplay just 40 seconds into the contest. She then made it 2-0 with a rebound goal in the 14th minute.

Later, Deveney would hook up with Katie O'Neill (Warrington, Pa./Council Rock North) to help the freshman record her first collegiate goal. But less than a minute later, Ercole made it 3-1 as she set up Erica Reichart with 11:54 left in the half. Gwynedd, who had a total of 13 penalty corners, was able to put a nice one together as Deveney took a feed from junior Sarah Jackson (Sewell, N.J./Washington Twp.) to cut it to 3-2.

It stayed a one-goal game into the second half, where the weather became progressively worse. The game was halted with less than 13 minutes in regulation due to lightning. The Griffins regrouped and came out after a 20-minute delay to put together a comeback to help notch their first win on the season.

First junior Erin Gorenflo (Plymouth Meeting, Pa./Plymouth-Whitemarsh) put home a loose ball off a scramble in front of Crusader keeper Margaret Ruth to tie the contest at 3-3 with seven minutes to go.

Jackson and Deveney worked the penalty corner to perfection again as a blast from the high arc found the back of the net give GM its first lead of the game with 3:35 left.

The Griffins peppered Ruth with 27 shots where the SU goalie made 15 saves. Gwynedd keeper Kelly  Kruk (Phoenixville, Pa./Methacton) did her part, recording six saves.

Gwynedd-Mercy travels to Widener for a night game on Thursday beginning at 7 p.m. Live stats will be provided, with the links on the GMC Athletic Website.