LEBANON, Ill. – The McKendree University women's soccer team ran its winning streak to two consecutive games here Sunday afternoon as the Bearcats collected a 2-1 win over the University of Illinois-Springfield in Great Lakes Valley Conference action at Leemon Field.
The defending regular season and GLVC Tournament champion Bearcats improved to 5-1-2 overall and 3-1-1 in the league, while UIS fell to 5-2-1 overall and 3-2-0 in the league standings.
McKendree got on the scoreboard early in Sunday's game as fifth-year senior forward Morgan Cervera (St. Peters, Mo./Francis Howell Central) took a pass from sophomore midfielder Anna Stiffler (O'Fallon, Mo./St. Dominic) and found the net just two minutes into the game. The goal by Cervera was her first of the season.
Following that goal, the Bearcats would hold possession for a majority of the first half as they took five shots and held a 3-1 edge on corner kicks. UIS would take just two shots in the period and both were off target.
The Prairie Stars, who entered the match fresh off a 2-1 win on Friday at Southern Indiana, would tie the match up in the 73rd minute off a goal from Ally Lassetter, which was assisted by Allison Hackett. That shot by Lassetter's was the lone shot on goal on the day by UIS.
McKendree would seal the win in the 87th minute as sophomore forward/midfielder Destiny Johnson (Maryville, Ill./Collinsville) found the goal on a ball that caromed off the goal on a shot by Stiffler to give the Bearcats a 2-1 lead. With her two assists, Stiffler is now tied for the team lead in points on the season with seven as she has scored two goals and recorded three assists.
For the game, McKendree held a 12-6 edge in shots and a 9-1 edge in shots on goal. Cervera, Johnson, sophomore midfielder Reagan Mauch (Columbia, Ill./Columbia) and freshman forward/midfielder Lena Higgins (Fenton, Mo./Fox) each took two shots in the game.
Cervera, Higgins and Johnson each put their two shots on goal in the win.
Angela Dagnino took two of UIS's six shots on the day.
The Bearcats also held a 6-3 edge in corner kicks for the match.
Senior Mercedes King (Troy, Ill./Triad) improved to 2-0-1 on the season as she allowed just one goal on the only shot she faced.
Allison Mirimanian took the loss in net for the Prairie Stars as she allowed two goals and had seven saves to fall to 5-2-1 on the season.
The Bearcats will hit the road for two GLVC matches next weekend as they begin the road trip with a 5 p.m. match on Friday, Oct. 1 in Liberty, Mo., against William Jewell and then concludes the trip with a 12 p.m. match on Sunday, Oct. 3 in Kirksville, Mo., against Truman State.
