LEBANON, Ill. - 19th-ranked McKendree University women's soccer (12-0-5, 8-0-4 GLVC) hosts the quarterfinal round of the Great Lakes Valley Conference Tournament, facing off against Indianapolis on Sunday afternoon. McKendree earned the number two seed in the conference tournament after drawing its final two regular season games as Rockhurst claimed the top seed in the league. The quarterfinal round is slated for a Noon kickoff at Leemon Field on Sunday, October 30.
THIS SEASON
The No.19 Bearcats completed the first undefeated regular season in program history, which dates back to 1996 when the program was established. McKendree women's soccer was taken over by current head coach
Tim Strange in 1999. McKendree remains as the lone unbeated squad in the Midwest Region, ranking fourth in the first true rankings posted by the NCAA this past week (
link). The team also remained in the United Soccer Coaches national poll rankings, coming in at No.19 while spending every week ranked since September 6, when they entered the nationally ranked scene.
The McKendree offense has been headlined by multi-time All GLVC performer in junior forward
Anna Stiffler, who leads the GLVC in points, points per game, goals, goals per game, and game-winners. Along with Stiffler, the Bearcats own 10 other goal scorers, which are led by senior midfielders
Elizabeth Goldstein and
Allison Frederking, junior forward
Destiny Johnson, and junior midfielder
Reagan Mauch, who all have fired three goals. 15 Bearcats have dished-out assists this fall as four are tied atop the team leader board, as Goldstein, Johnson, senior defender
Morgan Bova, and freshman midfielder
Rosa Caird each have three.
Senior
Abby Tucker has owned the goal this fall with 17 starts, nine shutouts, a save percentage of 0.795, 35 saves, and a goals allowed average of just 0.53.
McKendree landed its eighth-straight winning season in the process of going undeafeated as well.
PREVIEW vs 7-Seed INDIANAPOLIS GREYHOUNDS (5-6-5, 4-4-4 GLVC)
All-Time Series: 6-2-5, McK | Streak: T1
Indianapolis enters the GLVC tournament after dropping its regular season finale to Missouri S&T and drawing with UMSL the game prior. UIndy came into the season with high hopes as the Greyhounds made it to the second round of the NCAA Tournament before falling to Grand Valley State, the defending national champions. The Greyhounds started the year with a tough non-conference slate, playing against Northwood, Cedarville, and Ashland, who are all featured in the regional rankings.
The Greyhounds have been led offensively by Maria Herrero, who owns 14 points with six goals and two assists. Kiki Sauceda has fired four goals with four assists to rank second on the Greyhounds with 12 total points. The net has been held primarily by Makenna Nickens, who has logged 13 starts with 40 saves and five shutouts this fall.
Last season, UIndy took both matchups against the Bearcats, once in the regular season and once in the NCAA Tournament first round in Allendale, Michigan. The two tied the lone matchup so far this fall, 1-1.
GLVC Statisitical Rankings
United Soccer Coaches Poll
NCAA DII WSoc Regional Rankings
QUARTERFINAL ROUND | CHAMPIONSHIP CENTRAL
Oct. 30 | 12 PM | vs 7-Seed Indianapolis Greyhounds | Leemon Field | Lebanon, Ill. |
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