GWYNEDD VALLEY, PA. -- The Gwynedd Mercy University Field Hockey remained unbeaten at home after a thrilling 4-1 victory over visiting Washington College of Maryland Wednesday evening.

The team was led tonight by honorary captains Melanie Day and Cierra Fudala as part of Athletes Helping Athletes, an organization that helps special needs individuals partake in one-of-a-kind experiences involving athletics. The two were a part of the pre-game coin flip and marched out with the team for introductions.

The Griffins exploded for three first-half goals by Erika Cimino, Melissa Russo and Michaela Swenk and never looked back. Russo would add her second of the game in the second stanza.

Cimino would put GMercyU (7-2) on the scoreboard in the 11th minute for her first goal of the season. She would beat the keeper on her shot from above the end line to find the back of the cage. The Shorewomen would tie the contest 1:49 later when Alison Pantazes would finish a bouncing ball from the middle of the crease.

Russo would answer with her first goal of the game in the 30th minute as she collected a pass from Shannon Carroll in-front of the cage for the 2-1 advantage. To close out the first half, Michaela Swenk would deflect home a blast from Maggie Walsh from the top of the arc on a penalty corner. For Swenk, it was her first collegiate goal and gave the Griffins a 3-1 lead heading into intermission.

Carroll and Russo would connect again in the second half when Carroll got free on a breakaway and found Russo on a beautiful cross for a 4-1 lead in the 42nd minute. The Griffin defense would stand tall in the second half holding the Shorewomen to three shots. Madison Reiss would record a pair of defensive saves in the 56th and 65th minutes to keep Washington off the scoreboard in the second period.
 

For the game, the Griffins outshot Washington, 16-9, and held an 11-1 corner advantage.

Goalie Sarah Crane made five saves for Gwynedd while her counterpart Morgan Domanico made eight for Washington (4-5).

The Griffins now turn their attention to Colonial States Athletic Conference action when they host Notre Dame of Maryland at 2 p.m. on Saturday.