GWYNEDD VALLEY, PA. -- Just hours after achieving University status, the Gwynedd Mercy Field Hockey Team posted a 4-0 victory over visiting Delaware Valley College Tuesday afternoon. With the win the Griffins improve to 2-1 on the young season.

Senior Maria Karidas (Richboro, Pa./Council Rock South) sparked the offense with two goals and an assist while junior goalie Kelly Kruk (Phoenixville, Pa./Methacton) recorded five saves for her first shutout on the season.

Sophomore Katie Hickson (Harleysville, Pa./Lansdale Catholic) also tallied a score and an assist as GM handed Del Val (3-1) its first loss of the season.

Karidas put the Griffins up 10 minutes into the contest for a 1-0 lead. It stayed that way before sophomore Stephanie Bacho (Cinnaminson, N.J./Holy Cross) found the back of the cage with just under five minutes in the half to take a 2-0 lead into the break.

Hickson would get behind the last defender on a ball sent across the goal mouth for a tap in with five minutes elapsed in the second. Karidas would put the icing on the win with a penalty stroke goal in the 59th minute.

Kruk, who now has eleven shutouts for her career, saw six Del Val shots compared to Gwynedd's 11. Her counterpart, Sandra Edwards stopped four shots for the Aggies.

The Griffins return back to action on Saturday traveling to Alvernia. The new start time is now 1 p.m.