Gwynedd Valley, Pa. – (7/29/2025) – With the first competition of 2025 scheduled for a month from today, Gwynedd Mercy University Head Women's Soccer Coach Michael Nelms is pleased to announce the 2025 schedule, "At Gwynedd Mercy University, we don't back down from challenges and we embrace the grind." Coach Nelms noted, "We built a relentless non-conference schedule to sharpen our edge, harden our mindset, and prepare us for war, when conference play hits in October. Every test now is fuel for the fight ahead."
 
In 2024, a maturing roster celebrated league wins over Pratt Institute (W, 3-2 on Oct. 9) and Centenary University (N.J.) (W, 4-3 on Oct. 30) as their last two victories of the season. Gwynedd Mercy University totaled six wins (6-10-2, 2-4) en route to the #5 seed in the 2024 Atlantic East Conference (AEC) Women's Soccer Championship Tournament. There, a 2-1 double overtime tally marked the end of the Griffins' campaign; junior forward Natalie Morris (Boyertown, Pa.) recorded the only Red and Gold goal (1-0, 8:46). She and senior midfielder Bethany Beinlich (Forksville, Pa.) garnered All-AEC honors; the former earned First Team honors with a career-highs in points (23), goals (10), and assists (3), while the latter garnered Second Team honors with AEC Top-10 numbers in game-winning goals (T2nd, 3), assists (T8th, 5), and shots (10th, 47).
 
The 2025 Gwynedd Mercy University women's soccer season begins on Friday, August 29, when they Griffins visit the University of Valley Forge for a 4:00 p.m. contest. The Red and Gold disposed of the Patriots by a 6-0 (Sept. 16) final in 2024. Just 1:45 into the contest, a beautiful tic-tac-toe pass from Paige Fienman (Philadelphia, Pa.) to Demmi Fox (Huntingdon Valley, Pa.), to Natalie Morris (Boyertown, Pa.) gave the Griffins an early 1-0 lead over the Patriots. From there, a pair of Samantha Winco (Chalfont, Pa.) tallies (12:40, 77:13), a Fox goal (3-0, 67:37), and late scores from Elena DiPrinzio (Warrington, Pa.) (5-0, 84:55) and Casey Thomas (Philadelphia, Pa.) (6-0, 88:04) increased the final margin. Gwynedd Mercy University outshot the University of Valley Forge 53-2 and served 11 corner kicks. The Griffins are 6-0 all-time against the Patriots, including a 5-0 home record.

In a rare Labor Day contest, Gwynedd Mercy University is scheduled to visit Wilson College for a 5:00 p.m. contest on Monday, September 1. The Phoenix took the 2024 meeting by a 3-0 margin, netting their first tally at 8:50 (1-0), a second at 14:13 (2-0), and a third at 58:49 (3-0). Griffin goalkeeper Madisson Ronn (Warrington, Pa.) (1-1) made the start and finished the affair with six saves. The Phoenix outshot the Griffins 15-6 and doubled their corner kick opportunities, 6-3. All-time, Gwynedd Mercy University is 1-1 opposite Wilson College.
 
Two days later, Gwynedd Mercy University continues their opening road slate with a September-3 (4:30 p.m.) contest scheduled at Penn State Abington. The Nittany Lions won the 2024 meeting with a successful second-half penalty kick; 2-1 (65:58) (Sept. 18). Morris gave the Griffins an early 1-0 (20:05) lead when she completed a beautiful Beinlich pass. Unfortunately, Penn State Abington answered at 61:12 (1-1) and kept their momentum rolling with the 66^th-minute penalty kick. The Nittany Lions outshot the Red and Gold 21-12 and owned an 8-2 edge in corner kicks, while Natalie Gablein (Philadelphia, Pa.) recorded seven saves in the loss (1-2-2). The winner of this year's contest with take an edge in the all-time series, which is currently tied 3-3.
 
The final game of the opening road schedule is a September-6 (1:00 p.m.) contest at Penn State Brandywine. Gwynedd Mercy University opened their 2024 season with an 8-0 (Aug. 30) triumph over these Nittany Lions. From the first whistle, the Griffins dominated play as the backline prohibited Penn State Brandywine from taking a single shot while Beinlich (8:32, 11:09) and Fox (49:22, 56:26) headlined the Red and Gold offense with a pair of goals apiece. Winco (3-0, 19:30), Olivia Crawford (Rockledge, Pa.) (4-0, 44:45), an own goal (5-0, 68:18), and the first collegiate goal for Hannah Smith (Bensalem, Pa.) (6-0, 77:16) accounted for the other Griffin tallies in the victory. Gwynedd Mercy University fired 59 shots and were awarded a pair of corner kicks in the contest. They own a 3-2 all-time edge over Penn State Brandywine.
 
The 2025 home opener versus Lancaster Bible College is scheduled for 4:00 p.m. on Monday, September 8. Gwynedd Mercy University last faced the Chargers in 2023, when Lancaster Bible College improved their all-time record against the Red and Gold to a perfect 3-0 with a 3-0 (Sept. 16) final. The Chargers scored their goals in the ninth (1-0, 8:03), 31^st (2-0, 30:10), and 59^th (3-0, 58:42) minutes of the affair, while limiting the Griffins to just four shots. Ronn totaled eight saves in the loss (0-3). Gwynedd Mercy University is 0-3 all-time against Lancaster Bible College.
 
After that, Ursinus College is next on the docket for Gwynedd Mercy University; the Griffins are scheduled to host the Bears for a 12:00 p.m. contest on September 13. Ursinus College was last on the Red and Gold's schedule in 2012, when they topped the Griffins by a 3-0 measure. The Bears are 2-0 all-time against the Red and Gold.
 
A September-17 contest at Cedar Crest College (5:00 p.m.) and a September-27 contest at Albright College (4:30 p.m.) break up Gwynedd Mercy University's remaining non-conference home schedule as the Griffins host Cairn University (3:00 p.m. on Sept. 20), Penn State Berks (6:00 p.m. on Sept. 24), and Penn State Schuylkill (7:00 p.m. on Oct. 1), before engaging in their AEC rivals.

Gwynedd Mercy University and Cedar Crest College last met in 2017 with the Red and Gold earning a 3-0 (Oct. 14) victory; the Griffins are a perfect 16-0 all-time against the Falcons. Meanwhile, the Lions hosted the Griffins for a 2-0 final in 2024; battling swirling winds, the Griffins fell behind the Lions after tallies in the 12^th (1-0, 11:57) and 27^th (26:36) minutes. Despite the loss, the Red and Gold owned a 17-12 shot advantage and held a 4-3 edge in corner kicks. Gwynedd Mercy University is 4-3-1, all-time, against Albright College.
 
The Griffins and Highlanders tied, 2-2 in 2024. Just before the six-minute mark, a beautiful 20-yard blast from Fox just sailed over the Cairn University goalkeeper's fingertips; 1-0 (5:59). The Highlanders tied the contest early in the second half (1-1, 52:37), but Gwynedd Mercy University jumped right back in the driver's seat as Bridget Cannon (Bensalem, Pa.) placed a perfect ball for a centrally-located Beinlich header early in the 56^th-minute (2-1, 55:10). Unfortunately, the Red and Gold's advantage was short lived with a Highlander tally coming just a minute later; 2-2 (56:10). Gablein totaled six saves in the stalemate (1-0-1). Gwynedd Mercy University will look to stay perfect against Cairn University as they own a 11-0-4 all-time record against the Highlanders.
 
The September-24 date with Penn State Berks is the first meeting between the Griffins and those Nittany Lions. Meanwhile, Gwynedd Mercy University was victorious in their 2024 meeting with the Nittany Lions from Penn State Schuylkill (Oct. 7); it also was their first-ever meeting with these Nittany Lions. A fresh Red and Gold got out to a hot start with a through ball from Gordon to Morris just past the 15-minute mark (1-0, 15:13) and a Cannon-Gordon connection just past the 19-minute mark (2-0, 19:07) that triggered the Griffins for an eventual 6-0 victory. Gordon totaled a career-high six points (2 goals, 2 assists), while Miranda Abrams (Philadelphia, Pa.) earned the win (2-0) with three saves.
 
Gwynedd Mercy University opens their AEC schedule with an October-4 (12:00 p.m.) home game versus league-newcomer Saint Elizabeth University. Back in 2014, the Griffins won their fourth straight meeting with the Eagles by a 10-1 (Aug. 29) final. The Eagles finished 5-10-1 a year ago and 2-6 in the United East Conference.
 
The following week, the Red and Gold continues league play with an October-8 (6:00 p.m.) contest at Pratt Institute and a home October-10 (12:00 p.m.) contest versus Marymount University. Gwynedd Mercy's hard work in the offensive zone paid off early in their first-ever meeting with the Cannoneers as a foul in the box at 16:43 awarded the Griffins' Cannon a penalty kick; 1-0. Pratt tied the contest a little more than ten minutes later (1-1, 27:18), but the stalemate was short-lived as Beinlich finished a Fox feed before the 29-minute mark (2-1, 28:41). Pratt Institute knotted the contest again early in the 64^th minute (2-2, 63:02), but the Red and Golf claimed victory in grand fashion when Fienman found Morris for a fantastic breakaway score in the 75^th minute; 3-2 (74:57). Ronn earned her second win (2-1) of the season with nine saves in the contest.
 
Against Marymount University, the Griffins' efforts were muted until a Beinlich goal in the 81^st minute (3-1, 80:20). The Saints outshot the Gwynedd Mercy University 33-8 and earned a 9-3 edge in corner kicks to net goals in the 23^rd (1-0, 22:35), 25^th (2-0, 25:14), and 55^th (3-0, 54:43) minutes of a 3-1 final. This time Gablein totaled nine saves in the loss (1-5-2). Gwynedd Mercy University is 2-5-1 all-time versus Marymount University.

The Griffins' 2025 AEC schedule concludes with road games at Neumann University (Oct. 18, 1:00 p.m.) and Marywood University (Oct. 22, 7:00 p.m.), and a pair of home games against Immaculata University (Oct. 25, 3:00 p.m.) and Centenary University (N.J.) (Oct. 29, 6:00 p.m.); the October-25 contest versus the Mighty Macs will serve as Senior Day for Gablein, Morris, Ronn, Kyra Malloy (Limerick, Pa.), and Bryn Athyn transfer Kira Bradley (Langhorne, Pa.).
 
The Red and Gold controlled play throughout most of the 2024 meeting with Neumann University. But in the end of the affair, it was the Knights who netted the only tallies (15:15, 80:12) in a 2-0 final. Gablein finished with five saves in the loss (4-9-4). Versus the eventual AEC Champions, it was Ronn who left it all on the field in a 5-0 (Oct. 23) loss as the Griffin goalkeeper matched the program's single-game record with 22 stops against the Pacers. All-time, Gwynedd Mercy University is 16-6-4 against the Knights and 10-20-2 versus Marywood University.
 
Immaculata University defeated Gwynedd Mercy University in the 2024 AEC-opener (Sept. 28). The Mighty Macs won the contest by a 3-0 final despite a dozen (12) Gablein saves. The Griffins also them in postseason play as the fourth-seeded Mighty Macs advanced to the AEC Semifinals with a heartbreaking 2-1 (Nov. 2) win. Morris gave the Griffins to an early lead; 1-0 (8:46), but a 32-13 shot advantage and seven corner kicks allowed Immaculata University too many chances in a 2-1 (106:39), double-overtime final. Gablein tied her career-high with 17 saves in the loss (2-7-2). The Red and Gold are 19-9-1 all-time against the Mighty Macs.
 
Against the Centenary University, Beinlich made the final regular season game of her collegiate career one to remember with her second hat trick. The Griffin captain kept Gwynedd Mercy University ahead of the Cyclones after an opening Morris score (1-0, 5:02) with scores at 13:31 (2-0), 18:08 (3-0), and 55:51 (4-1). The 4-3 triumph propelled the Red and Gold to the fifth seed for the 2024 AEC Women's Soccer Championship Tournament. Gwynedd Mercy University is 4-14-1 all-time against the Centenary University.
 
The 2025 AEC Women's Soccer Championship is scheduled for Saturday, November 8 with semifinals and first-round contests respectively scheduled for Tuesday, November 4, and Saturday, November 1.