MARQUETTE, Michigan - 2023 Great Lakes Valley Conference champion and NCAA No.6-seed McKendree University women's soccer (16-1-3) heads to Michigan's Upper Peninsula this week for the NCAA Tournament's Midwest Regional for a battle with the third-seeded Grand Valley State Lakers in the opening round. The Bearcats and Lakers will take the field on Friday, November 17 for the first game of the weekend with a 10AM ET/9AM CT kick-off. McKendree enters the national tournament fresh off its fourth GLVC crown on Sunday, November 12, while also riding a 10-game winning streak. 

THIS SEASON
McKendree earned its fourth GLVC title in the last eight seasons with Sunday's 1-0 win over Lewis, picking up the crown as the league's No.2-seed. The weekend was highlighted by the tournament victory and automatic bid to the NCAA tournament while also including a myriad of awards for multiple Bearcats. Prior to the start of the tournament,one player collected a GLVC major award, six players were selected for All-GLVC honors while four were awarded All-Tournament honors following the weekend's conclusion. 

*first career all-league honor

The Bearcats fought their way to the title while extending a three-year unbeaten streak at home during the regular season. McKendree's unbeaten streak now sits at 25 games, dating back to the 2021 fall season.

Leading the offense is senior forward Anna Stiffler, who owns 12 goals and three assists for 27 points. Stiffler earned her third-straight first team honor while ranking in the GLVC and NCAA in multiple categories while also becoming McKendree's NCAA DII career goal scorer, currently with 42 (previously 38 held by Sydnee Carroll).

GLVC / NCAA Rankings

The Bearcats feature 12 goal scorers overall with nine players tallying multiple goals on the year. Senior midfielders Katie Spotanski and Reagan Mauch follow Stiffler in scoring as Spotanski has fired seven on the year while Mauch has four so far. 11 players have dished-out an assist on the year as junior forward and third team All-GLVC selection Lena Higgins leads the team with seven while freshman midfielder, GLVC Freshman of the Year, and third team selection Maggie Glecker is second on the team with six. In the defensive half, McKendree has continued to control the game and stone-wall opponents with a goals allowed average of 0.49, only allowing 10 goals on the year. Senior keeper Abby Tucker started all 20 games with 37 saves and her own goals allowed average of 0.52 and nine individuals and two combined shutouts on the fall in over 1700 minutes. 

SCOUTING THE LAKERS
Grand Valley State (11-3-6) enters the national tournament after exiting the GLIAC Tournament in the semifinals via 1-0 loss to UW-Parkside. The Lakers played to a draw in multiple tough contests with ties against Maryville and once to host and two-seed Northern Michigan while dropping contests to NMU, Ashland, and defeated then-No.8 Minnesota State-Mankato. 

2023 was the first year GVSU did not make the GLIAC Tournament Championship game and just the second time the Lakers did not win the league's tournament title. 

GVSU is led by Kacy Lauer and Taylor Reid, who both own 11 points behind four goal/three assist seasons. In goal, the Lakers Isabel Imes has played the latter half of the season with 15 starts with 26 saves. 

MATCHUP HISTORY
McKendree and Grand Valley State have only faced-off once in their program histories with the first outing coming in 2019. McKendree fell to the eventual national champions, 4-0, in the second round of the NCAA Tournament after defeating Ashland in the opening round. 

NCAA OPENING ROUND
McKendree takes on GVSU on Friday, November 17 at 10AM ET in Marquette, Michigan. The Bearcats and Lakers are hosted by the No.2-Seed Northern Michigan up north along Lake Superior. 

WATCH LIVE | LIVE STATS | TICKETS

Be sure to stay up-to-date by following McKendree Women's Soccer on Twitter and Instagram.

For more updates and information on Bearcat Athletics, please continue to visit McKBearcats.com and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
#BearcatsUnleashed #GLVCwsoc #D2wsoc