WHITTIER, CA. -- The Griffins grinded through an 8-6 win over Emerson Thursday evening. The game was played at Whittier College.

Ryan Simpson paced the offense with four goals (one man up) and added two groundballs and a caused turnover. Joe Pandolfi, Luke Xanthopoulos, Nick Freda, and Jacob Dzierzgowski also tallied for Gwynedd.

The team won the groundball battle, 28-20, and was good on 22 of its 25 clear attempts. Philip Weis totaled three GB's and a career high three caused turnovers.

Simpson netted a pair of goals in the first quarter, the latter coming with 40 second left to give the Griffins a 3-2 edge after one.

Gwynedd Mercy tacked on two goals from Pandolfi, Dzierzgowski to grab a three-goal lead (5-2) before an unassisted marker by Emerson's Austint DiPietro kicked off a string of three unanswered goals through the final 7:25 to enter the half tied at 5-5.

Freda notched his second man-up score of the season followed by Simpson's goal to begin the third to push the Griffins back in front by a pair (7-5) until Brush fired a shot that got Emerson within one at 7-6 at the 1:35 mark. It stayed that way until the 55 second mark when Xanthopoulos added a big insurance score for a two-goal lead.

Goalie Aubron Swartley recorded 14 saves, including six in the final frame.

The team heads back east and returns to action on Wednesday when the team travels to Albright.