INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. - McKendree University women's soccer went 2-0 over the weekend behind an outstanding performance from sophomore midfielder Anna Stiffler, which earned her Great Lakes Valley Conference Offensive Player of the Week as announced on Monday afternoon by the league office. Stiffler amassed four points over two matches to lead the Bearcats' attack and earned her second career GLVC Offensive Player of the Week award.

Stiffler, a native of O'Fallon, Missouri, and St. Dominic product, made a massive impact in the undefeated weekend over Quincy (9/24/21) and Illinois Springfield (9/26/21). The midfielder collected four points over the two-match weekend with one goal and two assists, being a part of all three scores for the Bearcats. Stiffler scored the game-winner against Quincy in the 89th minute, which put McKendree up 1-0. The Bearcats out-shot the Hawks in the match, 23-5, with 12 of 23 shots on goal compared to the Hawks zero shots on-frame. The Bearcat offense was led by Stiffler who sent eight shots with six total on-frame. McKendree also earned seven corners in the match compared to Quincy's one. The St. Dominic-product recorded her second goal of the fall and first game-winner of the season in the contest.

Against Illinois Springfield, Stiffler dished out an assist on both goals scored in the full-time win. She first sent out a pass to initial goal-scorer senior forward Morgan Cervera, which put the Bearcats up 1-0 over the Prairie Stars in the second minute of the game. UIS tied the contest in the 73rd minute but the tie broke shortly after with another Bearcat goal. The game-winning score of the match was fired by sophomore midfielder Destiny Johnson and was assisted on again by Stiffler. The two assists accounted for the sophomore midfielder's second and third of the season. Her two assist outing versus UIS also marked a career-high; her previous was one assist on four separate occasions.

Anna Stiffler gained back her footing in the league after a slow start to the year. Stiffler is now tied with senior midfielder Emma Knoebel for the Bearcat lead in points (seven) while she leads in assists with three and is tied for second in goals with two. So far this season, Stiffler has sent 17 shots with nine being on-goal, scored twice with one game winner, and assisted on three scores in her 384 minutes over eight matches. Her first goal came in the win over Missouri S&T (9/5/21) while the sophomore's first assist was against Kentucky Wesleyan in Owensboro (9/8/21).

Last Bearcat to win GLVC Weekly Honors:
Emma Knoebel - 09/13/2021

UP NEXT for McKendree:
McKendree women's soccer will be back on the pitch at William Jewell College on October 1 at 5 P.M. and on October 3 at Truman State at 12 P.M.

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