(LEBANON, Ill., Sept. 14)- The No. 8 McKendree University women's soccer team scored four unanswered goals on Tuesday night to win their American Midwest Conference opener, 4-1, over Missouri Baptist University.

The Bearcats have won their last eight AMC openers and extended their regular season conference unbeaten streak to 43 games, dating back to October 13, 1999.

McKendree found itself in a hole early after Christina Burton took advantage of a defensive miscue by the Bearcats to give Missouri Baptist a 1-0 lead in the seventh minute. A free kick goal by junior forward Sulyn Keomanivane (Granite City, Ill., Granite City) evened the score in the 23rd minute and she gave McKendree the lead for good in the 25th minute on her second goal of the game on a pass from senior midfielder Ashley Varns (Chatham, Ill., Glenwood). Senior midfielder Theresa Kaiser (St. Louis, Mo./Ursuline Academy) took a pass from Varns in the 40th minute and scored from 35 yards out to give the Bearcats a 3-1 lead at halftime.

Varns found the back of the net herself with a goal to the top left corner from 30 yards out in the 57th minute to give McKendree a 4-1 lead and the Bearcats rolled to their fourth win of the season.

Senior goalkeeper Liz Yanko (St. Louis, Mo., Rosati-Kain) improved to 4-0 overall on the season and had two saves in the win. The Bearcats out shot the Spartans 26-7 overall in the contest and also had eight shots on goal to Missouri Baptist's three.

McKendree, 4-0 overall and 1-0 in the AMC, will host Harris-Stowe State University for a conference game on Wednesday, September 15 at 7 p.m.