true Tweet #GwyneddSports


Gwynedd Mercy 11, DeSales 9


 BOX SCORE


GWYNEDD VALLEY, PA -- Behind a career-high seven points from sophomore Tony McCraw (Lawnton, Pa./Central Dauphin East), Gwynedd Mercy defeated DeSales, 11-9, on a very rainy Wednesday evening.

McCraw scored five goals and added two assists while adding eight groundballs and winning 6-of-7 faceoffs. Junior Nico Belardo (Columbus, N.J./Northern Burlington) netted two goals while dishing out three assists.

Tallies from McCraw, senior Mason Risner (Lancaster, Pa./Hempfield) and Richard Delea (Hanover, Pa./Southwestern) 8:23 into the first quarter helped stake the Griffins (2-2) to a 4-0 lead. The Bulldogs would counter with four of their own with one coming at the end of the first, and one to open the second to deadlock the teams. After trading goals, McCraw, who put GM up 6-5 with 7:49 to go before the half, scored a man-down goal and after a penalty to Belardo with just over a minute in the stanza.

Ryan Loughlin netted a team-high four goals for DeSales (0-4), scored twice in the third to keep pace. His tally with 1:34 in the frame made it a 9-8 game heading into the fourth.

Belardo and Delea would find the back of the net to up the lead to three goals. Goalie Ryan Murphy (Audubon, Pa./Methacton) would make four of his seven saves in the fourth to help cement the win.

Ryan Rowse's man-up goal with 2:51 made it 11-9, but the Griffins were able to keep the ball out of their defensive end the rest of the way.

Gwynedd outshot DeSales, 33-25, and won 15-of-23 faceoffs while going a perfect 12-for-12 on clears. Bulldog goalie Matt Warnken recorded 12 saves.

The Griffins are right back at it on Saturday when they welcome Hood in a 12 p.m. start.