GWYNEDD VALLEY, Pa. – A late goal by junior Alyssa Buckley (Flourtown, Pa.) was not enough as the Widener University field hockey team fell to Gwynedd Mercy by a 2-1 decision on Wednesday, Sept. 16 at the GM Athletic Complex.
 
Following a scoreless and quiet first half which saw the teams combine for only seven shot attempts, Griffin sophomore Melissa Russo scored twice to break the game open. Widener goalkeeper Mikayla Ninos (Northampton, Pa.) made a valiant effort to intercept a pass from Russo, but the ball deflected off her pad and landed in the cage to break the scoreless deadlock. Russo then potted a rebound after a defensive save was made by freshman Sarah Quintus (Drexel Hill, Pa.) off a penalty corner in the 67th minute for insurance.
 
Widener, however, fought to the very end and avoided being blanked for the first time this season by capitalizing on a penalty corner taken by sophomore Eliza Newlin (Lewisburg, Pa.). With regulation time expired, Buckley finished a pass from junior Brittany Lavin (Phillipsburg, Pa.) to produce the final outcome.
 
Samantha Soscia made two saves to pick up the victory between the pipes for Gwynedd Mercy (2-2), while Ninos turned away eight shots for the Pride in the setback.
 
Widener (3-1), which had its three-game winning streak snapped, returns home to face Cabrini on Friday, Sept. 18 at 7:00 p.m.