Gwynedd Valley, Pa. – (12/2/2025) – A thrilling 3-2 victory over Centenary University (N.J.) on October 29 was one of several high points during a 2025 Gwynedd Mercy University men's soccer campaign. The victory earned the Griffins the #5 seed for the Atlantic East Conference (AEC) Men's Soccer Championship Tournament; an opportunity they treasured as a 2-1 AEC First Round win over #4 Saint Elizabeth University (Nov. 1) ensured them a semifinal appearance opposite the eventual league champions, #1 Neumann University (L, 0-3 on Nov. 4).
 
Building, developing, and competing, the Red and Gold finished the season 8-11 overall and 3-4 in league play; it was the Griffins most wins since 2016 (9-11-0) and their best finish as a member of the AEC. The improvement came from a maturing roster that placed senior forward Braedon Kehan (Warrington, Pa.) (1^st Team) and junior midfielder Luke O'Donnell (Glenside, Pa.) (2^nd Team) on the All-AEC Men's Soccer Team; both garnered the second All-AEC laurels of their collegiate careers as the Griffin captains respectively earned All-AEC First Team honors in 2023 and 2024.
 
From the opening whistle, the 2025 season presented a mixture of challenges and promises for Gwynedd Mercy University as the Griffins used a non-conference roller coaster to battle-test them for a highly-competitive AEC schedule. Freshman goalkeeper Ethan Zimmerman (Myerstown, Pa.) made his collegiate debut in the 2025 season opener and shined in the opportunity, including a sensational breakaway stop early in the second half (58:49). Despite the 4-0 loss to DeSales University (Aug. 29), he finished the contest with 10 saves in 73:22 minutes.
 
The Red and Gold did not fair any better in game two as they sustained another 4-0 loss to Delaware Valley University the following Wednesday (Sept. 3). Zimmerman (69:23, 5 saves) and sophomore goalkeeper Cody Sell (Souderton, Pa.) (20:37, 1) combined for six saves in the loss. The third game was a 6-1 road loss at Misericordia University (Sept. 6). In this one, senior midfielder Joe Deitzel (Lansdale, Pa.) not only scored the Griffins' first goal of the 2025 season, but he also netted the first goal of his collegiate career with a shutout spoiler; 6-1 (89:40). Sell made his first collegiate start in goal and finished with a season-high eight saves.
 
After the early setbacks, Gwynedd Mercy University enjoyed a 4-1 win against Penn State Brandywine (Sept. 8). The Griffins set the tone early, dominating possession and creating chance after chance until a 14^th-minute payoff (1-0, 13:18); senior midfielder C.J. Clyde (Southampton, Pa.) buried a centering pass from sophomore midfielder Adam Leal (Jessup, Md.). Just over 20 minutes later (2-0, 36:33), the lead doubled off a well-placed restart from junior defender Axel Mayren (Atlantic City, N.J.) and a finishing touch from junior forward Devario Gboho (Philadelphia, Pa.). Mayren finished the contest with the first multi-point game of his collegiate career as he also found freshman defenseman Connor Piffath (Forest Hill, Md.) for the third Griffin goal; 3-0 (44:04). Kehan added a fourth Red and Gold tally just after halftime; 4-0 (50:28), leaving a five-save performance from senior goalkeeper Joe Romano (Blue Bell, Pa.) to take care of the rest.
 
Unfortunately, the victory was not enough to put the Griffins back on an uphill trajectory as the Red and Gold incurred losses versus Lancaster Bible College (L, 1-7 on Sept. 10) and Ursinus College (L, 1-3 on Sept. 12) before getting back in the win column. The rejuvenating victories came at the University of Valley Forge (W, 5-1 on Sept. 20), Penn State Berks (W, 4-1 on Sept. 29), and Penn State Schuylkill (W, 11-0 on Oct. 1). The first win was highlighted by an AEC Men's Soccer Weekly Honor Roll (Sept. 22) appearance for graduate goalkeeper Andrew Roberto (Churchville, Pa.) and the last win was a bewildering 11-0 victory that saw the Griffins make history in a variety of ways.
 
Gwynedd Mercy University finished the contest with the program's most goals scored in a single contest with 11 tallies; 11-0 (Oct. 1). They outshot the Nittany Lions 45-5 with a program-record in shots and totaled nine corner kicks to Schuylkill's one. Kehan scored the first of four first-half goals at 12:54 (1-0) and completed his first collegiate hat trick with two tallies (56:21, 58:37) amidst a seven-goal second half. In addition to Kehan, Clyde (5-0, 53:46), Piffath (8-0, 64:08), freshman forward Mava Mboko Celestin (Erie, Pa.) (9-0, 69:24), Gboho (10-0, 76:29), and freshman midfielder McCarthy Gomes (Feasterville-Trevose, Pa.) (11-0 84:52) all scored in the latter 90:00. In all, a program-record 11 goals and a program-record 11 assists were recorded by 11 different Griffins for a program-record 33 total points.
 
The Griffins' AEC season began with a narrow 2-1 loss at Saint Elizabeth University (Oct. 4). Following the Eagles' opening goal (1-0, 15:14), Gwynedd Mercy University pressure evened the affair with an own goal in the 42^nd minute; 1-1 (41:25). Unfortunately, the blessing erased by a late home goal (2-1, 89:28). Gboho led the Red and Gold with three shots, while Roberto made five saves.
 
Before continuing their league schedule, Gwynedd Mercy University welcomed Fairleigh Dickson University (FDU) - Florham back to the Athletic Complex for the completion of a September-17 contest. The Devils and Griffin both scored in the resumption, but an O'Donnell score in the 84^th minute (5-1, 83:35) was just a footnote on the 5-1 final (Oct. 6).
 
Gwynedd Mercy University resumed their AEC schedule with a 2-0, October-8 victory over Pratt Institute. The Griffins capitalized on an early Kehan goal (1-0, 25:08) with a late insurance tally by freshman forward Jackson Stuetz (Willow Grove, Pa.) (2-0, 70:59). The former took a season, career, and program single-game record 12 shots, while Roberto made eight saves to preserve his only shutout of the season.
 
Regrettably, the Griffins' high was countered with a low as losses to Marymount University (L 0-3 on Oct. 11), Neumann University (L, 0-2 on Oct. 18), and Marywood University (L, 1-8 on Oct. 22). Roberto provided a silver-lining to the losing streak with AEC Men's Soccer Weekly Honor Roll appearances on October 13 and October 20; he totaled 18 saves during the 1-1 week opposite the Cannoneers and Saints, before recording 11 saves to keep the Griffins in a tight contest versus the Knights.
 
The owner of a 1-4 AEC mark, Gwynedd Mercy University's postseason aspirations were in jeopardy heading to their final two league contests of the season. There, victories over Immaculata University (W, 3-1 on Oct. 25) and the Cyclones granted the Griffins wishes. After falling behind 1-0 in the opening half, Gwynedd Mercy University stormed back to claim a 3-1 victory over the Mighty Macs. Roberto anchored the defense with seven saves, while clutch scores came from Stuetz (1-1, 47:38), senior defenseman Colin Stocklin (Philadelphia, Pa.) (2-1, 51:55), and O'Donnell (3-1, 78:16). Stocklin was recognized with an AEC Men's Soccer Weekly Honor Roll (Oct. 27) appearance for his game-winner.
 
Needing a victory to cement their spot in the 2025 AEC Men's Soccer Championship Tournament, Gwynedd Mercy University received heroics across the roster in a 3-2 triumph at Centenary University (N.J.) (Oct. 29). The Griffins continued pressure allowed Gboho to tie the game in the 32^nd minute (1-1, 31:53) and Stuetz to do the same in the 81^st minute (2-2, 80:39), before O'Donnell netted the game-winner in the 87^th minute (3-2, 86:47).
 
Gwynedd Mercy University earned their first AEC postseason victory with their 2-1 First Round win over #4 Saint Elizabeth University (Nov. 1). O'Donnell served as playmaker for the Red and Gold with assists to Stocklin (1-0, 7:43) and Gboho (2-0, 47:08) giving Roberto room to work. The Griffin goalkeeper was sensational in net despite the Eagles' 28-12 shot advantage and 10-2 corner kick edge as he upheld his end of the deal with a season-high 13 saves.
 
Unfortunately, the historical season came to an end with a 3-0 AEC Semifinal loss to #1 Neumann University (Nov. 4). The Griffins totaled six shots in all with Kehan (2 shots) leading the way. Roberto made three saves in the opening 82:32.
 
Kehan was an All-AEC First Team selection after ranking among the conference's top offensive threats; he led Gwynedd Mercy University in goals (4^th, 8), points (4^th, 19), and shots (3^rd, 56), placing fourth in the league for the first two and third for the last. He also ranked among the AEC Top-10 in assists (T8^th, 3) and GWG (T2^nd, 3). An All-AEC Second Team selection, O'Donnell finished his junior campaign with four goals in 14 contests (13 starts) and he ranked among the AEC Top-10 in assists (T4^th, 4), points (T8^th, 12), and shots (9^th, 30).
 
Gwynedd Mercy University also received double-digits points from Gboho (12 points; 5 goals, 2 assists) and Clyde (10; 5, 0), but used a balanced effort to record program records in goals (40), assists (29), points (109), shots (270), and shots-on-goal (145 SOG). Additional noteworthy seasons include an encouraging junior campaign for Mayren (3; 0, 3) strong sophomore season for midfielder Gunnar Christensen (Finksburg, Md.) (3; 0, 3), and fantastic freshman debuts from Piffath (9; 4, 1), Stuetz (8; 3, 2), Celestin (6; 3, 0), and Gomes (6; 2, 2).    
 
After an early-season injury, Roberto logged the majority of goalkeeping minutes (988:00) and posted a 7-5 record with 79 saves on 193 shots faced. He sported a .790 save percentage (SV%) and a 1.91 goals-against average (GAA).