GWYNEDD VALLEY, Pa. – The Delaware Valley women's lacrosse team used to a five-goal second quarter to take a lead over Gwynedd Mercy it wouldn't relinquish eventually defeating the Griffins 12-7 to open the 2024 season.
 
Kyra McKeegan put DelVal on the board first just three minutes into the game. The defense held off the Griffins over the next seven minutes eventually evening the score, 1-1, with 5:50 left in the frame. With just 33 seconds remaining, Gwynedd put up a second goal to take the lead, 2-1, heading into the second quarter.
 
DelVal broke open the scoring in the second frame. The Aggies went on a five-goal run led by three goals from Ashley Birmingham. Anna Kimbel and Susan Rawding added a goal apiece to the scoring. The Griffins found the back of the net in the final second to cut the deficit to three, 6-3, at the end of the first half.
 
Birmingham kept the scoring going to start the third putting the Aggies back up by four, 7-4, 1:30 into the third quarter. The Griffins cut the gap back down to three, but DelVal quickly answered back with a 2-0 thanks to Birmingham, including a man-down goal, to bring the Aggies' lead to five, 9-4. The teams went 1-1 through the rest of the frame, with DelVal taking a 10-5 lead into the final quarter.
 
Scoring slowed in the final frame with each team putting up two goals apiece with Rawding contributing both goals for the Aggies. DelVal came out on top defeating the Griffins 12-7.
 
Birmingham led the scoring for the Aggies with a team-high six goals. Rawding added two goals while Kimbel and McKeegan added one apiece. Alyssa Rudd picked up a team-high five ground balls. Birmingham also led the team in draw controls with seven. Emily Drake played all 60 minutes in net making 16 saves on 23 shots faced.
 
The Aggies return to action on Wednesday, Feb. 28 at 4 p.m. at Stockton for their second of three-straight road games to start the season.