LEBANON, Ill. - McKendree University women's soccer hits the road for another Great Lakes Valley Conference contest, this time in Romeoville, Illinois against Lewis on September 17. Following the road contest, the Bearcats will return home for a matchup with UIndy on September 19 at Leemon Field.

Lewis will enter the match undefeated at 3-0-0 on Friday evening, most recently beating GLVC-foe Lindenwood. Offense has been steady for the flyers, recording six goals on the year behind two from Havelka-Vanderplow and one from four other players. The Flyers have also beaten non-conference opponents Tiffin in overtime and Purdue Northwest. Havelka-Vanderplow earns point-leader status for Lewis as she has accumulated six behind her two goals and two assists. The Flyers have lost six-straight matches to the Bearcats, dating back to 2015 when they beat McKendree 3-1. 

As the Bearcats enter the fifth match of their season, they own a three-match winning streak and an undefeated season at 3-0-1. The offense has been led by senior midfielder Emma Knoebel, who has amassed three goals in four matches and earned GLVC Offensive Player of the Week this past Monday (9/13/2021). The senior midfielder has also dished out one assist this season and leads the Bearcats with seven points. Defense has been a staple for the nationally-ranked Bearcats, as they have heavily controlled the ball over their three-match winning streak. The net has been under lock and key this year with senior keeper Mercedes King and junior keeper Abby Tucker combining for a goals allowed average of 0.94 and 15 saves. The pair of keepers have only faced 35 shots in four games as the Bearcats' back line has formed a blockade against opposing attacks. 

McKendree's offense has not been a singular effort as six other players have recorded a point while five of those individuals have added a goal. Sophomore midfielder Anna Stiffler is second on the team with three points behind a goal and an assist. The others who have added at least one point to the efforts of McKendree are Morgan Bova (1 goal, 2 points), Allison Frederking (1 goal, 2 points), Reagan Mauch (1 goal, 2 points), Katie Spotanski (1 goal, two points), and Gillian Nicholson (1 assist, 1 point). 
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On Sunday, the Bearcats will host the Greyhounds of UIndy, who own a 2-1 record entering the weekend after they dropped their GLVC-opener to UMSL. The leader for UIndy's offense has been Sauceda, who has collected eight points on the year with four goals. The Greyhounds beat Cedarville and Ohio Dominican to begin the season, reaching 12th in the United Soccer Coaches national poll but fell out after their loss to the Tritons in the latest poll. 

McKendree has not lost in the last 10 contests between these two programs with a record of 6-0-4. The Bearcats won the lone matchup of the 2021 spring season, 1-0, in Indianapolis. McKendree has only recorded one draw at home against the Hounds in the last ten matches, winning the other four at Leemon Field. 

NOTES:
The Bearcats are on a seven-match unbeaten streak as they enter the weekend, which dates back to the spring 2021 season. 

McKendree will look for a seventh-straight win over the Flyers on Friday evening in Romeoville and to remain unbeaten against UIndy since 2012. 

McKendree rose in the USC national poll to 15th following its 2-0 week where they beat Kentucky Wesleyan and the conference runner-up from last season, Southern Indiana.

Senior midfielder Emma Knoebel (Maryville, Illinois) won the Bearcats first GLVC Player of the Week honor since March 22 of this year, when she also won the award. Knoebel earned the achievement after her two-goal week when McKendree beat Kentucky Wesleyan and USI. 

Sophomore midfielder Katie Spontanski knocked in her first career goal against Southern Indiana, which turned into the game-winner.

Seven Bearcats have recorded at least one point on the season with six of those players scoring a goal.  
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Friday's match against Lewis in Romeoville will be broadcast on GLVCSN.com.

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