(Lebanon, Ill., Oct. 28) – The McKendree University women's soccer team will start the journey for its first Great Lakes Valley Conference (GLVC) Tournament title on Sunday, Oct. 30 at noon as they host Bellarmine University in a conference quarterfinal contest.

The Bearcats will make their third GLVC Tournament appearance as they enter the contest as the number four seed with a 14-4 overall record and a 11-4 mark in the GLVC. The Bearcats look to continue their hot streak as they finished the 2016 season on a four-game win streak.

As a team, McKendree leads the GLVC in points with 111 and points per game at 6.17. The team's 39 goals also tops the conference. The Bearcats enter Sunday's match second in the league with 33 assists, trailing only Rockhurst University.

Individually, Sydnee Carroll (Millstadt, IL/Belleville West) is the conference leader in points at 33, points per game at 1.83, goals at 15, and game-winning goals with eight. Chelsea Whittaker (Dunedin, Otago, New Zealand/St Hilda's Collegiate School) is currently tied in third in the GLVC with six assists.

Scouting the Knights: Bellarmine enters the tournament as the number five seed posting an 11-2-4 overall record and 9-2-4 mark in conference play. Mary Gorham and Olivia Taylor have been the offensive workhorses for the Knights with Gorham posting 18 points and Taylor posting 16 points on the season.

Last Meeting: Last Sunday, Oct. 23, McKendree visited Bellarmine with the Bearcats walking away with the 1-0 victory. McKendree would hold the advantage in shots 9-3. Amanda Williams (Rochester, IL/Rochester) netted the lone goal in the contest as she found the back of the net in the 64^th minute.

Bad Blood: McKendree and Bellarmine are no strangers in the GLVC Tournament quarterfinal round. Last season, the Knights hosted the Bearcats in the quarterfinal match-up with Bellarmine defeating McKendree 2-1 in double overtime.

Tournament Action: Truman State earned the top seed in the tournament as it will host number eight seeded Southern Indiana. Second-seeded Rockhurst will host number seven seed Quincy, and third-seeded Missouri-St. Louis will welcome number six seed Wisconsin-Parkside.

Winners form the quarterfinal round will advance to the GLVC Tournament semifinals which will be played at Carroll Stadium in Indianapolis on Nov. 4. The GLVC Tournament championship will be played on Nov. 6.