Gwynedd Valley, Pa. - (2/23/2022) - Gwynedd Mercy University (0-1) welcomed Albright College (1-2) to the GMercyU Athletic Complex for tonight's season opener. The Lions scored the first two goals of the contest, 2-0 (8:23), but the Griffins matched the tallies with a pair of goals (7:43, 1:41) from sophomore attack Jason Eide (Pleasant Hill, Calif.). The second came on the man-up and off the feed of senior attack Cameron Ostroff (Wilmington, Del.). Unfortunately, the difference in the eventual 16-11 final came in the second quarter where Albright College separated for an 8-2 (0:38) halftime lead. Gwynedd Mercy University trimmed the deficit to five goals, 10-5 (5:55), on an unassisted Ostroff goal just past the six-minute mark, but the Lions answered the Griffins' 3-0 run with the last goal of the third quarter, 11-5 (3:55), and the first of the fourth quarter, 12-5 (12:47). Gwynedd Mercy University pressured the Lions with another three-goal run, 12-8 (9:12). This one included man-up goals from sophomore midfielder Tyler Long (Downingtown, Pa.) (12:16) and freshman midfielder Richie Hughes (Turnersville, N.J.) (9:12) on either end of another Eide goal (10:36), but was followed by a trade of three-goal runs that kept the difference at four goals, 15-11 (3:53) with a little less than four minutes to play. There, Albright College managed to refocus their efforts and endure the Griffins in a 16-11 (2:08) final.

Eide finished the contest with five points (3 goals, 2 assists), 12 shots, and a pair of ground balls. Ostroff totaled four points (2 goals, 2 assists), three shots, six ground balls, and two caused turnovers. And Hughes registered his three goals on nine shots. Sophomore midfielder Shane Langefeld (Hainesport, N.J.) had the Griffins' most success on the face off, winning half of the draws he entered in (9-of-18, .500). Senior goalkeeper Aubron Swartley (Mechanicsburg, Pa.) totaled 11 saves and four ground balls in the loss (0-1).

Gwynedd Mercy University returns to the GMercyU Athletic Complex on Saturday, February 26, when they host Juniata College in a 3:00 p.m. contest.