LIVE STATS | LIVE VIDEOGWYNEDD VALLEY, PA. -- The Gwynedd Mercy University Women's Soccer team returns to the Colonial States Athletic Conference Tournament tonight in a quarterfinal matchup against Neumann University at 6 p.m. at the Gwynedd Mercy Athletic Complex.
The Griffins, who missed out on the playoffs last season, have turned it around in this year and come into tonight with and 8-2-1 mark in CSAC action to earn the #3 seed. The Knights, the #6 seed, ended their 2014 CSAC slate with a 5-2 win over Cairn University to finish 6-4-1 in league play.
This will be the first playoff matchup for the Griffins against the Knights for head coach
Neil Johnson. Under Johnson, this will be Gwynedd's seventh playoff appearance. The Griffins reached the finals in the 2008 and 2012 seasons with a semifinal appearance in 2009.Â
The Griffins bested the Knights, 2-1, back on September 24th in Aston. Neumann held a 1-0 lead at the halftime break thanks to a goal by Ashley Hawkins but the Griffins responded with a pair of second half goals.
Meghan Petroski (Philadelphia, Pa. / Little Flower) would tie the game 1-1 and
Theo Horozoglou (Holland, Pa. / Council Rock South) netted the game winner for the 2-1 victory.
Gwynedd is led by a handful of 2014 All-CSAC Selections.
Meghan Petroski was named CSAC Rookie of the Year while
Kerri Petroski (Philadelphia, Pa./Little Flower),
Casey Gaughan (Philadelphia, Pa./Villa Joseph Marie) and
Jess Tadley (Cherry HIll, N.J./Cherry Hill West) were all named First-Team All-CSAC selections. The Griffins also return experience from their 2012 team with
Megan Gifford (North Wales, Pa. / Lansdale Catholic),
Allison Bigos (Sicklerville, N.J. / Paul VI) and
Rae Stengel (Marlton, N.J. / Cherokee) all in the starting lineup.
Neumann is led by First-team All-CSAC selection Ashley Hawkins, Second-Team picks in Becca Burkhart and Tonia Russo and honorable mention selection Brooke Harvey. Hawkins leads the team with nine goals and four assists for 22 points.
Under Johnson the Griffins are 5-1-2 against Neumann since 2007.
#4 Marywood hosts #5 Rosemont in the other first round match-up tonight. While #1 Cabrini and #2 Centenary await the winners of the first round for Wednesday semifinal matchups. The championship will be played on Saturday at the highest seed remaining.
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