Gwynedd Valley, Pa. – (8/26/2026) – "We have a record, 38 Griffins on the roster," boasted Gwynedd Mercy University Head Men's Soccer Coach Dave Bontempo. "We graduated another class of quality men last year, we have another great group of seniors on this year's roster, and we've recruited 13 freshmen from North Jersey to Scranton and from the Philly suburbs all the way down to Maryland." Coach Bontempo continued, "Right now, we are forming, as the school year begins we are norming, and come October we hope to be storming; healthy, hitting on all cylinders, and playing highly-competitive soccer in the AEC (Atlantic East Conference) playoffs!"
 
In 2025, a thrilling 3-2 victory over Centenary University (N.J.) on October 29 was one of several factors that earned Gwynedd Mercy University the #5 seed for the AEC Men's Soccer Championship Tournament. The Griffins treasured the postseason opportunity 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). Despite a 3-0 loss to the Knights, the Red and Gold finished the season 8-11 overall and 3-4 in league play; it was the most wins for the program since 2016 (9-11-0) and their best finish as a member of the AEC. Forward Braedon Kehan '26 (1^st Team) and midfielder Luke O'Donnell (Glenside, Pa.) (2^nd Team) represented 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.
 
"Luke can score. He has proven that over his last two seasons," praised Coach Bontempo. "But, we have a lot of guys to help him out. Guys like Axel, Dom, Gunnar, Javi, Tony, Elvis, and Mel - as well as some others I have my eye on – there is a lot of potential on the pitch." O'Donnell begins his second term as team captain. His junior (2025) campaign culminated with an All-AEC Second Team selection as he finished among the AEC Top-10 in assists (T4^th , 4), points (T8^th, 12), and shots (9^th, 30). He totaled a dozen (12) points with four goals and four assists.
 
Coach Bontempo identified senior Axel Mayren (Atlantic City, N.J.), junior Dominic Lodise (Bensalem, Pa.), and junior Gunnar Christensen (Finksburg, Md.) as tough backline players who can help ignite the offense, while praising the versatility of senior Javier Hidalgo (Palisades Park, N.J.), and acknowledging the marked improvement across a senior class that also includes senior forward Devario Gboho (Philadelphia, Pa.), defenseman Tony Mendoza (King of Prussia, Pa.), and junior midfielder Mel Velasquez (Philadelphia, Pa.), and forward/midfielder Thomas Watkins (Morrisville, Pa.). As for the others he will be keeping an eye on, Coach Bontempo mentioned sophomore midfielder Connor Piffath (Forest Hill, Md.) and junior defenseman Adam Leal (Jessup, Md.) as potential factors in the months to come. "Connor is an intelligent player whose best years are ahead of him. And Adam, he's quiet, but don't let it fool you. He is tough and smart; very dangerous."
 
Additionally, a deep Red and Gold field roster holds six more juniors; defenseman Jack Barnett (Bensalem, Pa.), midfielder Ryan Burns (Abington, Pa.), defenseman Alex Garcia (Feasterville, Pa.), midfielder Owen Polumbo (Morrisville, Pa.), defenseman Anthony Ramos (Philadelphia, Pa.), defense/midfielder Andrew Leibig (Bensalem, Pa.), and five sophomores; defenseman Emmett Dougherty (Warminster, Pa.), midfielder McCarthy Gomes (Feasterville-Trevose, Pa.), midfielder Colin Jastremski (Cape May Court House, N.J.), forward Mava Mboko Celestin (Erie, Pa.), and forward Jackson Stuetz (Willow Grove, Pa.), in addition to Coach Bentempo's newcomers; junior midfielder Jamar Gauda (Delran, N.J.), and freshmen; defenseman Cillian Berkery (Philadelphia, Pa.), defenseman Dylan Coyne (Chalfont, Pa.), midfielder Gavin Coyne (Chalfont, Pa.), defenseman Nigel Graham (Toms River, N.J.), midfielder Jordan Gross (Pittsgrove, Pa.), forward Caleb Kane (Scranton, Pa.), midfielder/forward Josh Laskowski (Warminster, Pa.), defenseman Tommy Loughran (Ottisville, Pa.), midfielder Antonio Magistro (Warminster, Pa.), midfielder Angel Paz (Bristol, Pa.), midfielder Ryan Polumbo (Morrisville, Pa.), and midfielder Erick Urbina (Centreville, Md.).
 
"Andrew Roberto '27 was a great leader in goal for us last year. He got hot toward the end of the season and he was a big reason we had the success we did," said Coach Bontempo. With Roberto now serving as an assistant coach with the Gwynedd Mercy University women's soccer team, he turns the goaltending duties over to junior Cody Sell (Souderton, Pa.), sophomore Ethan Zimmerman (Myerstown, Pa.), and freshman Kevin Harter (Springfield, N.J.). Zimmerman (8 games played – 5 games started) made five early-season starts as a freshman and totaled 34 saves (60 shots faced) with a .596 save percentage (SV%) and a 0-4 record with his 5.06 goals-against average (GAA). Meanwhile, Sell (3gp-1gs) made three appearances and earned one start before suffering a season-ending injury. He finished the season 0-1 with nine saves (17 shots faced) thanks to a .600 SV% and a 4.24 GAA.
 
"I think we will be challenged in September as we figure out how to replace a great senior class and welcome in another talented group of freshmen. The goal, of course, is to find the best combination of 18 guys when we get to conference play," sumized Coach Bontempo. "We are known to be a dangerous opponent during the playoff push. We took great strides in 2025. Our goal is to, not just, get back to the conference semifinals, but host them and take a run at the last AEC title."
 
The Gwynedd Mercy University men's soccer season begins on Tuesday, September 1, when the Griffins head to DeSales University for a 4:00 p.m. kickoff.