Gwynedd Valley, Pa. – (12/7/2021) – A month of perseverance laid the groundwork for Gwynedd Mercy University's final flourish as the Griffins enjoyed a 5-5 October that included significant regular season wins over Arcadia University (W, 2-1 on Oct. 6), Immaculata University (W, 1-0 on Oct. 9), Marywood University (W, 3-2 on Oct. 12), Neumann University (W, 2-0 on Oct. 20), and an Atlantic East Conference (AEC) Field Hockey Championship Tournament victory over the sixth-seeded Knights (W, 2-0 on Oct. 30). Despite a disappointing 2-0 semifinal loss to the eventual league-champion, #2 Cabrini University (Nov. 3), the Griffins finished the 2021 season – and first full season under Head Coach Alex Calder – with a 6-14 overall mark and a 3-2 AEC standing.
 
Seniors, defenseman Kaci Murray (Chalfont, Pa.) and forward Lauren Jani (Coopersburg, Pa.) headlined the Gwynedd Mercy University effort with respective All-AEC First and Second Team recognition. The former went on to garner a spot on the 2021 National Field Hockey Coaches Association (NFHCA) All-Region IV Second Team as she captained a Gwynedd Mercy University (6-14, 3-2) defense that defied statistics. Murray was named the AEC Field Hockey Defensive Player of the Week on October 11 after recording an assist and three defensive saves in Gwynedd Mercy University's 2-1 victory over Arcadia University (Oct. 6) and tallying the only goal of the Griffins' 1-0 AEC, and Senior Day, win over Immaculata University (Oct. 9). She also provided impressive defense in a brilliant finish that included a dramatic 1-0 double-overtime loss to #5 Kean University (Oct. 27), a 2-0 AEC Quarterfinal win over #6 Neumann University (Oct. 30), and a 2-0 AEC Semifinal defeat versus the eventual league champion, #2 Cabrini University (Nov. 3). Murray's 10 defensive saves led the AEC and also tied a Griffin single-season mark set in 2016 by Noelle Schillinger '18.
 
Jani led the Griffins offensively with 16 points (6 goals, 4 assists) and game-winning goals in Gwynedd Mercy University victories over Keystone College (W, 3-1 on Sept. 25), Arcadia University, and Marywood University. She was named to the AEC Field Hockey Weekly Honor Roll on October 25, after scoring the second goal of the Oct.-20 win over Neumann University and the only Griffin goal of a 2-1 loss at Cabrini University on October 23. Jani finished 10^th in the AEC for points, ninth in goals, and third in game-winners (3).
 
Freshman goalkeeper Morgan Lawless (Bristol, Pa.) was the only other Griffin to garner recognition from the league as she earned an AEC Field Hockey Weekly Honor Roll mention on November 1. Her praise came as a result of six saves in a 1-0 loss at #5 Kean University (Oct. 27). Despite a 25-2 shot advantage and a 19-1 edge in penalty corners, the Cougars needed an extra frame to overcome the Griffins in the regular season finale. There, Lawless fended off every attempt but the last as the Cougars eventually won the affair in the 65-minute (64:35). Lawless finished her rookie campaign with a 6-14 record, three shutouts, and 97 saves on a 3.01 goals-against-average (GAA) and a .614 save percentage.
 
In addition to Lawless, forward Cheyenne Avellino (Egg Harbor, N.J.), forward Amber Sims (Perkasie, Pa.), and midfielder Laura Filchner (Northampton, Pa.) headlined an impressive freshman class. Avellino totaled five points (2 goals, 1 assist) with her game-winning tally coming in the Griffins' 2-0, October-20 victory over Neumann University. Sims (4 points) and Filchner (4 points) both finished with a pair of goals.
 
Gwynedd Mercy University dropped seven straight decisions before earning their first win of the season with a September-25, 3-1 victory over Keystone College. After a scoreless first quarter, the Giants got on the scoreboard a little more than three minutes into the second quarter; 1-0 (18:34). Just two minutes later (20:56), Sims answered off a Jani pass, 1-1. At 23:45 a Murray-Jani connection gave the Griffins a 2-1 edge for halftime. The Griffins added an insurance tally late (3-1, 40:00) in the third quarter with Murray recording her second assist of the affair on a feed to junior defender Haley Didinger (Berlin, N.J.). Gwynedd Mercy University outshot Keystone College by an 11-1 margin and held an 11-6 penalty corner advantage in the victory.
 
The Griffins' victory over the Giants did not produce immediate benefits, but following losses to Widener University (L, 0-6 on Sept. 29) and Salisbury University (L, 0-5 on Oct. 2) Gwynedd University enjoyed consecutive victories over Arcadia University, Immaculata University, and Marywood University. In the final weeks of the regular season losses outweighed victories, but effort trumped all as the Griffins used losses to Misericordia University (L, 0-4 on Oct. 13), St. Mary's College of Maryland (L, 0-5 on Oct. 16), Cabrini University (L, 0-2 on Oct. 23), and #5 Kean University (L, 0-1 (OT) on Oct. 27) to prepare themselves for an AEC postseason push.
 
Filchner picked the perfect time for her first two collegiate goals as her second-half tallies (34:22, 47:05) propelled Gwynedd Mercy University to a 2-0 postseason victory over sixth-seeded Neumann University (Oct. 30). Jani totaled a team-high seven shots, but she was just one of eight Griffins with multiple shots in a season-high 31-shot effort. Lawless made one save in the victory. Unfortunately, Gwynedd Mercy University's postseason run came to a close just day later with a 2-0 AEC Semifinal loss to #2 Cabrini University (Nov. 3).