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GWYNEDD VALLEY, PA. -- The Gwynedd Mercy Field Hockey Team has punched their ticket to the 2014 NCAA Division III Tournament for the fourth-straight year under the direction of head coach Laura-Ann Lane.

Gwynedd (15-5) comes into the tournament as the representatives of the Colonial States Athletic Conference after defeating Cabrini in the finals for the fourth-straight season.

The Griffins will stay in the state of Pennsylvania and travel to Huntingdon, Pa. to face Juniata College on Wednesday, November 12th. The Eagles (14-5) defeated Catholic, 1-0, in double overtime to secure the Landmark Conference championship and earn a Pool A bid to the tournament.

Juniata is led by head coach Caroline Gillich. This will be the Eagles 6th appearance in the NCAA Tournament under the direction of Gillich. The Griffins have a handful of experience with nine players on their roster with NCAA Tournament experience.

Gwynedd is led by a pair of juniors Stephanie Bacho (Cinnaminson, N.J. / Holy Cross) and Katie O'Neill (Newtown, Pa. / Council Rock North). Bacho was named the CSAC Championship MVP with her three-goal performance against Cabrini in the finals leads the Griffins with 21 goals and 51 points. While O'Neill the 2013 CSAC Championship MVP has scored 12 goals on the year adding 8 assists. Both Bacho and O'Neill were selected First Team All-CSAC.  Freshmen Melissa Russo (Saylorsburg, Pa. / Pleasant Valley) and Brianna O'Connell (Berlin, N.J. / Eastern) round out the Griffins top scorers. Russo has recorded 11 goals and 11 assists in her rookie year. O' Connell has added 13 goals with her last one being the game winner in the Championship against Cabrini to put the Griffins up 2-1 in the second half. Russo and O'Connell were Second Team All-CSAC selections.

Senior goalie Kelly Kruk (Phoenixville, Pa. / Methacton) has been in goal for the Griffins since her freshman year.  She has accumulated 56 wins in her four year career with a 1.85 GaAvg. She was also named First Team All-CSAC for her performance this year with a career best .784 save%. The backline is comprised of seniors Brittany Wilson (Huntingdon Valley, Pa. / Lower Moreland) and Brooke Oliver (Red Hill, Pa. / Upper Perkiomen) along with freshmen Madison Reiss (Quakertown, Pa. / Pennridge) and Noelle Schillinger (Marlton, N.J. / Cherokee).  Wilson along with Kruk is a four time CSAC champion. As a Second Team All-CSAC selection she added five goals this year with two coming in the CSAC playoffs against Neumann.  Oliver leads Gwynedd in defensive saves and has recorded twenty one for her career. Reiss a First Team All-CSAC selection started every game this year along with Schillinger.

Honorable mention All-CSAC selection Megan Senkeleski (Little Silver, N.J. / Red Bank), Katie Hickson (Harleysville, Pa. / Lansdale Catholic), Amanda Martino (Sayreville, N.J. / Sayreville War Memorial)  and Cristen Pody (Medford, N.J. / Shawnee) will look to contribute and bring experience to help the Griffins secure their first-ever NCAA Tournament victory.  Freshmen Abigail Gabriel (Telford, Pa. / Souderton), Catherine Walbrecher (Baltimore, Md. / Eastern Technical) and Samantha Soscia (Lambertville, N.J. / South Hunterdon) will look to add a spark and energy during the tournament.

Juniata is led by Sarah Bilheimer and Allison Groft. The junior duo leads the Eagles with ten goals on the season.  Both also have four game-winning goals to boot.  Senior goalie Julianne Jones has a 0.75 GaAvg with a .865 save%.

The winner of Wednesday's game will advance and play second round opponent Wellesley hosted by Salisbury University.