INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. – McKendree University women's soccer was voted the preseason favorite in the Great Lakes Valley Conference (GLVC), earning 10 of 14 first-place votes, per the league's official release Wednesday afternoon. The Bearcats received the number-four national rankings in Division II via the USC Preseason Poll earlier in August. 
 
The Bearcats claimed the top rank in the preseason poll with a total of 187 points and 10 first-places marks. The women beat out rivaling Southern Indiana, who nabbed second with 172 points and three first-place votes, as well as UIndy which gathered 163 points.
 
During the unconventional spring season, McKendree capped off an 11-win regular season with a GLVC Tournament championship via shutouts over Maryville (2-0, April 19) and Quincy (1-0, April 23), as well as a 5-2 victory over USI (defending GLVC Tournament champions) in the GLVC title bout. Going 14-2-1, the Bearcats laid claim to their first conference crown since 2017. McKendree also continually rose through the United Soccer Coaches' rankings, reaching as high as fourth in the nation and, coincidentally, that is where they will begin the 2021 fall campaign.
 
Returning for the Bearcats are five of six All-GLVC players, including midfielder Emma Knoebel and defender Danielle Knutson (GLVC first-team), forward Anna Stiffler and goalkeeper Mercedes King (GLVC second-team), and defender Morgan Bova (GLVC third-team). Stiffler and Knoebel led the Bearcat attack with 19 points each; Stiffler, the GLVC Co-Freshman of the Year, dropped in eight goals and three assists while Knoebel scored seven and assisted on five. The back line for the Bearcats remains strong with Knutson, Bova, and King all returning to the pitch for McKendree. King played in 11 matches last season, with 20 saves and a 0.48 goals allowed average.
 
McKendree opens its GLVC season on Sunday, September 12 at Southern Indiana in Evansville at 12:00 P.M.
The first regular season match for the Bearcats takes place on September 2 against Ashland University in Indianapolis at 12:00 P.M. The first home match for the Bearcats is against Missouri S&T in a non-conference battle on September 5.