(LEBANON, Ill., Oct. 23)—The McKendree College women’s soccer team won their ninth consecutive game to finish out the 2005 regular season. McKendree defeated Benedictine College at home 6-0 on Sunday to improve to 14-2-1 overall this year.

     McKendree got on the board early when Jill Delbar scored off a corner-kick from Katelyn Cleveland (Collinsville, Ill./Collinsville). Cleveland hit the ball into the box by the near post where Delabar was waiting. Delabar then one-touched the ball over her shoulder and into the net to give the Bearcats a 1-0 lead just seven-minutes into the game.

     McKendree kept the scoring going when Jenna Shellenberg (Troy, Ill./Triad) scored at the 28-minute mark on a pass from Laura Cox (Rochester, Ill./Rochester). The goal was Shellenberg's 15th of the season, setting a new career-high.

     The Bearcats added four more goals in the second-half with Katie Hubbard (Granite City, Ill./Granite City) adding two and Katie Beck (Florissant, Mo./Hazelwood West) and Brittany Fuzessery (Granite City, Ill./Granite City) each adding one. Meghan Rooney (St. Charles, Mo./Francis Howell North), Beck, Cox and Cleveland all picked up assists on the second-half scoring.

     Bearcat keepers Natalie Jameson (Troy, Ill./Triad) and Jill Wolfmeier (Millstadt, Ill./Belleville West) split time in recording the shutout with Jameson playing 72-minutes and Wolfmeir finishing out the game.

     McKendree will now advance to the NAIA Region V Playoffs, earning an automatic bid due to winning the American Midwest Conference regular season championship. The Bearcats will host at least one game, with the playoffs beginning Nov. 6. The opponent is to be determined.