GWYNEDD VALLEY, PA. -- Gwynedd Mercy enters the 2013 Colonial States Athletic Conference Field Hockey Playoffs for the seventh-straight year under the direction of head coach
Laura-Ann Lane.
The second-seeded Griffins will host the Mighty Macs of Immaculata, the third seed, on Wednesday night at 7 p.m.
GM defeated IU, 3-0, this year and have won eight in a row against the Macs. The two met in the semifinals back in 2011 with the Griffins winning, 3-1.
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The Griffins come into the four-team tournament as the back-to-back defending CSAC Champions, winning in 2011 and 2012 while punching their tickets to the NCAA Division III Field Hockey Tournament.
The squad is led by a trio of seniors in
Maria Karidas (Richboro, Pa. / Council Rock South),
Brianne Kline (York, Pa. / Central York) and
Erin Magee (Lindenwold, N.J. / Paul VI). Karidas leads the CSAC in goals and points. She tallied a career-high 21 goals this year and has accumulated 47 points. Kline and Magee are anchors on the Griffins back line. The duo have combined for seven defensive saves.
Sophomores
Stephanie Bacho (Cinnaminson, N.J. / Holy Cross) and
Katie O'Neill (Newtown, Pa. / Council Rock North) add to Karidas' offensive punch. The pair has combined for 18 goals and 12 assists. O'Neill leads the CSAC with 10 assists and the team with four game-winning goals.
In goal, junior
Kelly Kruk (Phoenixville, Pa. / Methacton) enters the playoffs with a 2.04 goals against average and a .756 save percentage. She also recorded five shutouts this year.
#1 Cabrini will welcome #4 Neumann in the other semifinal on Wednesday. The Cavaliers defeated the Knights, 4-1, in their regular-season meeting.
Both semifinal winners will square off on Saturday in the championship at the site of the highest remaining seed at 1 p.m.
