Gwynedd Valley, Pa. – (7/30/2025) – Now, less than a month from the first competition of 2025, Gwynedd Mercy University Head Men's Soccer Coach Dave Bontempo has officially publicized the 2025 schedule, "Our schedule provides plenty of opportunity for 23 returnees and 15 new Griffins to test themselves against some of the best conferences in the region." He continued, "Our travels to North Jersey, the Poconos, and down to Maryland and Virginia, are designed to give my staff, and I, a window to evaluate who can compete come October. We look forward to revealing our core 20 for what we hope is an AEC (Atlantic East Conference) Championship campaign."
 
In 2024, a Red and Gold roster with 17 new faces united for non-conference wins over Penn State Schuylkill (W, 6-1 on Sept. 7) and the University of Valley Forge (W, 2-1 on Sept. 21), a 1-1 (Sept. 13) tie at Bryn Athyn College, and a 1-1 (Oct. 30) AEC tie in the season finale versus Centenary University (N.J.). Unfortunately, the stalemate with the Cyclones was not enough to qualify the Gwynedd Mercy University for the 2024 AEC Men's Soccer Championship Tournament. The Griffins finished the season 2-16-2 overall and 0-5-1 in conference play; midfielder Luke O'Donnell (Glenside, Pa.) garnered All-AEC First Team honors and defenseman Matt Edwards (Bensalem, Pa.) was recognized with an All-AEC Second Team selection.
 
The 2025 Gwynedd Mercy University men's soccer season begins on Friday, August 29, with a 4:00 p.m. home game versus DeSales University. The Griffins and Bulldogs opened the 2024 season against each other with DeSales University hosting the Red and Gold for a 3-0 loss. The Red and Gold struggled offensively and took all six of their shots in the first half. Meanwhile, the Bulldogs went on to a 3-0 victory with scores in the 19^th (1-0, 18:32), 26^th (2-0, 25:10), and 58^th (3-0, 57:15) minutes. Goalkeeper Joe Romano (Blue Bell, Pa.) made his first career start in net for Gwynedd Mercy University and finished with two saves in the loss (0-1). The Griffins are 0-16-1 all-time against DeSales University.

The Red and Gold continues their early non-conference schedule with home dates versus Delaware Valley University (Sept. 3, 7:00 p.m.), Penn State Brandywine (Sept. 8, 7:00 p.m.), Lancaster Bible College (Sept. 10, 4:00 p.m.), Ursinus College (Sept. 12, 7:00 p.m.), and Fairleigh Dicksinson University (FDU) – Florham (Sept. 17, 4:00 p.m.). In between, they visit Misericordia University for a September-6 (3:00 p.m.) match.
 
Delaware Valley University continuously put pressure on Gwynedd Mercy University in their 2024 (Sept. 18) meeting. With a 22-8 shot advantage, the Aggies eventually broke the Red and Gold defense in the 78^th minute of a 1-0 (77:17) final. Romano (1-4) was back in the net for the Red and Gold and finished with a season-high 11 saves. Delaware Valley University is 9-12-2 all-time against Gwynedd Mercy University.
 
The Griffins hosted Misericordia University for their 2024 home opener (Sept. 3). Gwynedd Mercy University had their best chance for a tally late in the first half as midfielder C.J. Clyde (Southampton, Pa.) sent a 20-yard restart over the Cougar goal in the 44^th minute (43:20). After intermission, a 19-2 shot differential led to the fourth Misericordia University goal (4-0, 87:58) of a 4-0 final. Romano made eight saves in the loss (0-2). The Cougars are 10-1 all-time against the Red and Gold.
 
Gwynedd Mercy University is 3-3-2 all-time versus Penn State Brandywine following a 0-0 tie in 2023 (Sept. 25). The Griffins own a 2-3-1 all-time record against Lancaster Bible College; they lost to the Chargers by a 3-0 (Sept. 11) final in 2024. Forward Braedon Kehan (Warrington, Pa.) recorded four of the Red and Gold's seven shots and put half of them on goal, while O'Donnell (2 shots on goal) and midfielder Kasey Wallace '25 (1) also took chances on the Charger net. Romano (1-3) made four first-half saves.
 
The Griffins and Bears last met in 2021 (Sept. 9), when Ursinus College improved to 4-0 all-time versus Gwynedd Mercy University with a 5-0 victory. Conversely, despite a 47-3 shot deficit, the Red and Gold challenged FDU-Florham in their 2024 (Sept. 23) meeting. Freshman goalkeeper Fionn Berton (Bordentown, N.J.) kept the difference to a single goal – 1-0 (62:48) – with eight saves in the loss (0-2-1). Gwynedd Mercy University is 1-5-1 all-time against the Devils.
 
September comes to a close with road games at the University of Valley Forge (Sept. 20, 11:00 a.m.), McDaniel College (Sept. 23, 4:00 p.m.), and Penn State Berks (Sept. 29, 5:00 p.m.).
 
The Patriots were one of two wins on Gwynedd Mercy University's 2024 schedule as O'Donnell gave the Griffins the initial advantage with a goal in the 35^th minute (1-0, 34:29) and later the win with a well-placed serve to Clyde in the 51^st minute; 2-1 (50:09). Romano totaled four saves in the win (2-4). The Red and Gold is 9-1 all-time against the University of Valley Forge.
 
Gwynedd Mercy University hosted McDaniel College to a heartbreaking 1-0 loss in 2024 (Sept. 23). Steady rainfall and gusty winds added an element of difficulty for both sides, but its misfortune manifested for the Griffins as Berton allowed a Green Terror strike to slip through his gloves in the 74^th minute; 1-0 (73:03). He finished the affair with four saves. The win was McDaniel College's first in a 1-4-1 all-time record against the Red and Gold.

The Griffins outshot the Nittany Lions 25-19 and controlled the first ten minutes of a 4-2 home loss to Penn State Berks in 2024 (Oct. 4). O'Donnell took a team-high six shots and helped Gwynedd Mercy University achieve a 15-7 corner kick advantage, but the visitors capitalized on their chances with goals in the 18^th (1-0, 17:30), 26^th (2-0, 25:17), 29^th (3-0, 28:22), and 57^th (4-0, 56:04) minutes rendering a pair of late O'Donnell goals (56:20, 81:56) useless. Berton made five saves in the loss (0-6-1); it was the Red and Gold's first defeat at the hands of these Nittany Lions (2-1).
 
Gwynedd Mercy University concludes their non-conference schedule on October 1 with a 4:00 p.m. home game opposite Penn State Schuylkill. These Nittany Lions marked the Griffins' first win of the 2024 (Sept. 7) season. Just 2:20 (1-0) into the game, defenseman Colin Stocklin (Philadelphia, Pa.) scored his first goal as a Griffin. As the Red and Gold shots accumulated, additional tallies came in the 21^st (2-0, 20:36), 26^th (3-0, 25:25), 35^th (4-0, 34:10), 36^th (5-0, 35:25), and 70^th (6-1, 69:14) of an eventual 6-1 Griffin triumph. Stocklin (2:20, 69:14) and midfielder Gunnar Christensen (Finksburg, Md.) (34:10, 35:25) finished the contest with two goals apiece, while all three of the Red and Gold goalkeepers saw time in net. Gwynedd Mercy University set a program record for shots in a single game with 42 in the contest; it was their first meeting with Penn State Schuylkill.
 
AEC play begins on Saturday, October 4, with a 7:00 p.m. contest at league newcomer Saint Elizabeth University and proceeds with an October-8 (7:00 p.m.) game versus Pratt Institute, an October-11 (1:00 p.m.) date at Marymount University, an October-18 (12:00 p.m.) Senior Day contest versus defending league champion Neumann University, an October-22 (6:00 p.m.) affair against Marywood University, as well as October-25 (1:00 p.m.) and October-29 (2:00 p.m.) road engagements at Immaculata University and Centenary University (N.J.), respectively.
 
Gwynedd Mercy University and Saint Elizabeth University will meet for the first time in 2025. In 2024, the Eagles were 9-7 overall and 6-2 in the United East Conference. Their season ended with a 3-2 (Oct. 30) overtime loss to Wilson College in the First Round of the league's championship tournament.
 
The Griffins lost their first meeting with the AEC's 2024 addition - Pratt Institute – by a 2-0 (Oct. 9) final. Both teams' defense allowed few chances as the conference foes combined for just 11 shots. Kehan and forward Devario Gboho (Philadelphia, Pa.) took three shots apiece while Berton recorded four saves in the loss (0-7-1).
 
Marymount University was a tough opponent for Gwynedd Mercy University in 2024 as the Saints celebrated a 5-0 (Sept. 28) victory over the Red and Gold early in the league season. A 20-7 shot advantage allowed the visitors to net goals in the 24^th (23:58), 32^nd (31:42), 35^th (34:43), 45^th (44:42), and 58^th (57:52) minutes, while Berton did all he could to stop five shots in the loss (0-4-1). All-time, the Griffins are 0-7 against the Saints.

Gwynedd Mercy University is 5-18-3 all-time against the two-time AEC defending champions; they lost to Neumann University by a 7-0 measure in 2024 (Oct. 19). The Knights recorded their first goal of the affair just 6:29 into the first half; 1-0. An 18-1 shot advantage and a 6-1 edge in corner kicks helped Neumann University score once more (2-0, 27:17) in the first half and five times (49:40, 54:20, 68:16, 70:20, 76:42) in the second half. Defenseman Cole Costello (Richboro, Pa.) registered the loan Griffin shot at 88:17 and Romano made four saves in the loss (2-7). The 2025 contest will also serve as Senior Day for Clyde, Kehan, Meyer, Romano, Stocklin, Joe Deitzel (Lansdale, Pa.), Colin Heisler (Delran, N.J.), and graduate Andrew Roberto (Churchville, Pa.).
 
Gwynedd Mercy University lost to Marywood University by a 3-0 measure in 2024 (Oct. 23). The Griffins entered the contest desperately needing a win to keep their 2024 postseason hopes alive. Unfortunately, the Pacers used a 34-6 shot advantage and a 6-0 edge in corner kicks to net goals in the 33^rd (32:54), 62^nd (61:52), and 65^th (64:23) minutes. Berton matched a season-high with 10 saves in the loss (0-8-1). Marywood University and Gwynedd Mercy University are an even 12-12-3 all-time.  
 
The Griffins celebrated their 2024 seniors prior to their 3-2 (Oct. 26) loss to the Mighty Macs. Just minutes into the game, Immaculata University took an early 2-0 lead with tallies at 2:20 and 6:44. A persistent Red and Gold attack got the Griffins back into the contest as Kehan goals at 8:44 (2-1) and 53:56 (2-2) evened the contest heading to the later stages. Unfortunately, the Mighty Macs' 26-11 shot advantage and 15-6 corner kicks edge broke the stalemate with a tally in the 70^th minute; 3-2 (69:29). Berton totaled seven saves in the loss (0-9-1). Gwynedd Mercy University is 6-10-2 all-time against Immaculata University.
 
The 2024 season concluded with a 1-1 (Oct. 30) tie versus Centenary University (N.J.).  Forward Shaine Kirby '25 scored in his final collegiate game, netting the game-tying goal with a penalty kick rebound in the 75^th minute (1-1, 74:20). Goalkeeper Cody Sell (Souderton, Pa.) made his first collegiate start and totaled 10 of his 11 saves in the stalemate (0-0-1). Gwynedd Mercy University is 5-11-2 all-time against the Cyclones.
 
The 2025 AEC Men'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.