Lancaster, Pa. – (4/26/2024) – With the conclusion of the regular season and league schedules, Conference Commissioner Jessica Huntley has officially released the seeding for the upcoming
2024 Atlantic East Conference (AEC) Women's Lacrosse Championship Tournament. A 1-5 league record earns Gwynedd Mercy University (1-13, 1-5) the #6 seed and a First Round contest at #3 Marywood University. With #1 Cabrini University and #2 Marymount University receiving byes, the AEC First Round games are scheduled for Saturday, April 27. The Griffins and Pacers are scheduled for a 1:00 p.m. draw, while #4 Immaculata University will host #5 Neumann University in a 12:00 p.m. contest.
Gwynedd Mercy University earned their AEC postseason bid with a 21-8 triumph over Centenary University (N.J.) on the final day (Apr. 24) of regular season play. The Griffins honored fourth signature seniors - attack
Lindsay Anderson (Merchantville, N.J.), attack
Caroline Cleary (Chalfont, Pa.), defender
Grace Cooney (Doylestown, Pa.), attack
Kristin Varilla (Lansdale, Pa.) - prior to the victory over the Cyclones. Varilla etched herself further into the Red and Gold's record books as she surpassed 200 career points with her seventh point (14-4, 4:10 2QTR) in a nine-point performance that included a season-high seven goals and came with five ground balls, four draw controls, and a caused turnover. Cleary was equally impressive with six assists in a seven-point effort that came with six draw controls, two ground balls, and a caused turnover.
The Red and Gold totaled 132 goals (6
th in AEC) and allowed 250 (7
th in AEC), while recording 438 ground balls (6
th), causing 116 turnovers (5
th), and winning 162 draws (6
th). They were 71.2% (156-for-219) on their clear attempts, while posting a .382 shooting percentage (6
th) and a .304 save percentage (6
th).
Varilla led Gwynedd Mercy University during the regular season with 55 points (42 goals, 13 assists); she ranks eighth in the league with a team-high 42 goals and 13
th in assists with 13. Her offensive compliment was Cleary, whose team-high 28 assists ranks eighth in the AEC. Junior midfielder
Cheyenne Avellino (Egg Harbor Township, N.J.) has also been a significant contributor to the Red and Gold success with the league's second best caused turnover total (35), 42 draw controls (13
th in AEC), and 27 ground balls (27
th). She has totaled a career-high 32 points with her top season totals in goals (27) and assists (5). In goal, freshmen
Nikki Williams (Cinnaminson, N.J.) (1-5, 327:15 minutes) and
Victoria Sloan (Philadelphia, Pa.) (0-8, 510:21) have both seen significant time. The former started all six conference games and recorded double-digit saves at both Marywood University (11 on Apr. 17) and Neumann University (12 on Apr. 20).
Please visit GwyneddAthletics.com following Saturday's AEC First Round contest for updates to the Griffins' postseason schedule.
