CENTER VALLEY, PA. -- In a defensive battle, Gwynedd Mercy was on the wrong side of a close 3-2 decision at DeSales on Saturday.

The Griffins (1-4) trailed 2-0 at halftime and 3-1 late in the fourth before Jordan Dzierzgowski made it a one-goal game with 1:48 to play with his unassisted tally. The Bulldogs forced a turnover just after the ensuing face off and nearly ran out the clock. But a shot clock violation with just seven ticks left gave GM one last chance, but the team was unable to get off a shot before the final buzzer.

DeSales (2-3) built a 2-0 lead on goals by Justin Wilson and Eric Magro. Late in the third after a forced turnover from Marc Bushong, Gwynedd got on the board on Alfonso Manzo's goal off an assist from Joseph Pandolfi.

Magro netted his second of the game in the early stages of the fourth before Dzierzgowski's tally.

Defensively, Bushong led the team with four caused turnovers and six groundballs. Dzierzgowski, Joe Simpson, and Jacob Snavely snagged three groundballs apiece. Goalie Chris Burns made 10 saves in his first career start. Sean Myers recorded three saves in over seven minutes of action. DeSales goalie Matt Barry had eight stops.

Gwynedd Mercy will return to action on Wednesday when they head to Wilkes.