(GWYNEDD VALLEY, Pa.) — The Wilson Phoenix women's soccer team lost to future conference foe Gwynedd Mercy to open the 2026 season on a muggy Tuesday evening. The Phoenix finished with five shots, two on goal, and made five saves while the Griffins put six of their 11 shots on frame, but none more important than a goal midway through the first half.

The Basics

Score: Wilson 0, Gwynedd Mercy 1

Venue: Gwynedd Mercy Athletic Complex

Records: Wilson 0-1, Gwynedd Mercy 1-0

How It Happened

• In the first half, the Phoenix generated two early corner kicks by Kenzie Hermann (So., Perkasie, Pa.) and put a shot on frame through Erilyn Schleigh (So., Hagerstown, Md. / North Hagerstown) in the 11th minute, but Zoe Davis made the save for the Griffins to keep the game scoreless.
• Gwynedd Mercy followed with pressure from over an eight-minute stretch 14:22 to 22:01, while Madison Ebersole (Jr., Big Pool, Md. / Clear Springs) made saves on Elena DiPrinzio and Anna Nicosia to keep the match scoreless in Wilson's favor. Unfortunately for the Blue and White, Michelina Soroka scored for Gwynedd Mercy at 23:56, with the goal listed after a loose ball in front of goal.
• The Phoenix pushed back with an Ella Schmoyer (So., York, Pa. / West York) shot saved in the 31st and a Madelyn Koons (FY, Chambersburg, Pa. / Chambersburg) header wide in the 36th minute, while Ebersole added another save before Gwynedd Mercy carried the 1-0 score into halftime.
• In the second half, Karen Cutler (Sr., Camp Hill, Pa. / Camp Hill) created the Phoenix's first shot of the half just under three minutes in, sending an attempt wide right. Gwynedd Mercy answered with pressure in the next three minutes, taking three shots and a corner kick. Bella Scarlato (So., Severn, Md. / Glen Burnie) saved two attempts to keep the score at 1-0.

Up Next
The Phoenix travel to Scranton, Pa., to face Marywood University on Friday, Sept. 4, at 7 p.m.