GWYNEDD (PA)--- The Delaware Valley women's lacrosse team traveled to Gwynedd Mercy University to open their season and came away on the losing end, 19-5.
Gwynedd Mercy started the game off fast, winning the opening draw and working quickly down the field to set up Hailey Bloom for the first goal of the game, 21 seconds in. The Griffins won the ensuing draw and looked to add on to their lead, but Aggie goalkeeper Ashley Chrencik made a save on a shot by Meleah Hoats.
DelVal was able to successfully clear the ball out of their defensive zone and turn it into an offensive opportunity, as Ashley Birmingham buried the first goal of the season for the Aggies from eight yards out to tie the score up at one, just under three minutes into the game.
From there, the Griffins were able to take control of the game, scoring nine straight goals to end the first quarter to take a 10-1 lead.
Gwynedd Mercy continued their pressure in the second quarter, scoring four more goals to take a 14-1 lead into halftime.
Kyra McKeegan won the opening draw for the Aggies to start the third quarter, starting an offensive chance. After a Griffins foul, McKeegan had possession behind the goal and hit a cutting Susan Rawding, as she put a shot past the keeper for the Aggies' second goal of the game 55 seconds into the second half.
The score remained 14-2 over the next eight minutes before the Aggies put together another attack. Birmingham worked her way to an open space just outside the crease and received a pass from McKeegan from behind the goal, as she scored her second goal of the game to make it 14-3.
The Griffins answered with a goal with 3:32 left in the third to make it 15-3, before McKeegan scored her first tally of the season with 15 seconds left in the quarter, as the Aggies trailed 15-4 heading to the fourth.
Gwynedd Mercy scored the first four goals of the final frame before Kiara Haywood-Rivera netted the fifth goal of the game for the Aggies in the final two minutes.
Ashley Birmingham finished with two goals while Kyra McKeegan netted one goal and had two assists.
Ashley Chrencik played the whole game in goal for the Aggies and finished with eight saves.
DelVal will be back in action Saturday, March 5th at home against Immaculate for a 1 p.m. start.
