LEBANON, Ill. – McKendree University women's soccer hits the road to traverse another pair of Great Lakes Valley Conference matchups with a six-match winning streak in its possession. The Bearcats first take on Missouri S&T (4-4-2, 3-3-2) on October 15 before heading to league-leading Drury (10-1-0, 8-0-0) on October 17.
 
The Bearcats own a six-game winning streak, which dates back to September 24 when they defeated Quincy, 1-0, at Leemon Field behind late-match heroics from sophomore midfielder Anna Stiffler. The winning streak also includes wins versus Illinois Springfield (2-1), at William Jewell (3-2 OT), at Truman State (1-0), versus Southwest Baptist (2-1), and versus Rockhurst (3-0). During the streak, McKendree has owned the ball and held it in the attacking half, out-scoring the opposing forces 12 goals (11 assists) to four goals (five assists) while also out-shooting opponents 113 (58 on-frame) to 29 (11 on-frame). The Bearcats have owned the corners with 50 corner kicks to only 10 by opponents.

The team-leaders during the stretch feature Stiffler, who has collected four goals and four assists (12 total points over the six contests)Following Stiffler, who also owns three game-winners during the streak, are sophomore midfielder Reagan Mauch and senior midfielder Riley Ross, who both have two goals (four points), while senior forward Morgan Cervera and freshman defender Kathleen Kenny both own one goal and two assists (four points) in the stretch. Senior keeper Mercedes King has held the net for McKendree with 522 minutes, a goals allowed average of 0.69, seven saves, and six wins. King returned in the Quincy match after an absence due to injury and has an undefeated record of 6-0-1 this year. In total, ten Bearcats have recorded a point over the six game stretch while seven own a goal and six dished out an assist.  

In the Great Lakes Valley Conference this fall, Stiffler ranks third in total points with 15, fourth in points per game at 1.25, fifth in goals with five, second in game-winning goals with three, and tops the league in assists with five. Mauch, who has fired four scores this year, ranks ninth in the league in goals scored, while senior midfielder sits tied for fifth in gam-winning goals with two. In the net, King ranks sixth in the league with a goals allowed average of 0.76. McKendree enters the weekend as the second-ranked team in the GLVC with 22 points behind Drury (24 points). On the year, 10 Bearcats have recorded a goal while 12 have collected at least one point. 


At Missouri S&T
The Bearcats will take on the Miners for the second time this season to open the road weekend, the initial meeting between the two GLVC-foes was on September 5. That match was won by the Bearcats, 3-2, behind a penalty kick goal by Knoebel in overtime. In the all-time series between the two programs, McKendree owns the advantage with an 8-2-1 record and a six-match winning streak as well as a seven-match unbeaten streak.

The Miners own a 4-4-2 record on the year and split their latest weekend, beating Lindenwood in overtime, 1-0, and dropped a match at Maryville, 1-2. Midfielder Sydney Gratz leads the Miners' attack with 15 total points behind six goals and three assists. Gratz scored one of two S&T goals during the first match against McKendree. Forward Lily Chung and Paige VanDaele follow Gratz with seven and six points. Chung has fired three goals with one assist this year while VanDaele owns three goals. The keeper slot for the Miners has primarily been owned by Kristin Steins with 798 minutes, amassing 36 saves and a goals allowed average of 1.13 and a save percentage of 0.783.

At Drury:
The Panthers enter the weekend as the top-ranked team in the GLVC with an 8-0-0 record and a 10-1-0 overall mark (24 points). Drury won its latest two matchups over Lindenwood (2-0) and Missouri-St. Louis (4-0). The Panthers' offense has been led by forward Elsa Gonzalez who owns 16 points behind seven goals and two dish-outs. Gonzalez is followed by fellow forward Chloe Cash, who owns eight points with two goals and four assists in 11 games. Defender Andrea Camargo (two goals and two assists) and midfielder Keely Combs (one goal and four assists) both own six points as well. 

The all-time series between the Panthers and Bearcats is  owned by McKendree with a 5-4-1 record as well as a win streak of three over Drury. 


NOTES:
The Bearcats enter the October 15/17 weekend with a six-game winning streak, which dates back to September 24 with a victory over Quincy.

12 Bearcats have recorded at least one point on the season with 10 scoring at least one goal this fall. The Bearcats are led in both catergories by Anna Stiffler who owns five goals and five assists. 

Sophomore midfielder Anna Stiffler (O'Fallon, Missouri) collected back-to-back GLVC Offensive Player of the Week awards after two undefeated weekends. (9/27/21 and 10/4/21)

Senior midfielder Emma Knoebel (Maryville, Illinois) earned the first GLVC weekly honors for McKendree after a stellar week of matches early in the season. (9/13/21)

Freshman defender Kathleen Kenny (Wildwood, Missouri) scored her first goal as a Bearcat during the match with Rockhurst on October 10, firing a long ball past the Hawks' keeper in the 51st minute. 

WEEKEND SLATE:
Friday, October 15 | @ Missouri S&T | Rolla, Mo. | 5 P.M.
Sunday, October 17 | @ Drury | Springfield, Mo. | 12 P.M.

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