ASTON, Pa. – The Neumann University field hockey team defeated Gwynedd Mercy University 3-1 on Wednesday afternoon in an Atlantic East Conference matchup.
 
The first quarter was relatively quiet, with each team getting penalty corner chances and shots blocked. In the second quarter, Gabriella Cappelli put the Knights in the lead with a goal in the 19^th minute off of a penalty corner. Ayla Mergen in-bounded the ball. Rachel Roane got the ball to Cappelli for the assist and a 1-0 Neumann lead.
 
Gwynedd Mercy attempted to respond with several offensive efforts and penalty corners, but the Knights kept the Griffins off the board for a 1-0 lead into halftime.
 
The Knights put two goals on the board in a span of a minute early in the third quarter. Meghan Sheldrick scored her first goal as she tipped in a shot from Jess Silver. In the next minute, Sheldrick picked up her own rebound for her second goal and a 3-0 Neumann lead.
 
The Griffins broke the shutout bid with a goal off of a penalty corner in the 42^nd minute. The score remained 3-1 after three quarters.
 
Gwynedd Mercy applied early pressure in the fourth quarter, but Caley Gee made five strong saves to keep Neumann up by two. The Knights tilted the field back to the offensive zone for the final four minutes and though they could not get another goal, the Griffins were kept off the board for the 3-1 win.
 
Gee finished with eight saves in net for her ninth win of the season, putting her one away from tying the program record for wins in a season. Roane's assist was her first collegiate helper.
 
Neumann (9-6, 2-1 Atlantic East) wraps up its season next Wednesday at Immaculata. The conference match gets underway at 7:00 PM.
 
Notes: The nine wins for the Knights ties for the most since 2018 when Neumann went 9-8 overall and 3-2 in the Atlantic East.
 
The win also clinches a postseason berth for the Knights.