KANSAS CITY, Mo. | United Soccer Coaches - McKendree University women's soccer is off to a program-best start at 7-0-0 (3-0-0 GLVC) and continued its rise in the USC NCAA Division II National Poll, moving up to No.13, as released on Tuesday afternoon by the organization. The Bearcats have posted five true-road victories in their seven games while owning an undefeated conference record, which features three road wins in the league. McKendree's program-best start at 7-0-0 began in Alabama, where the Bearcats posted two strong wins over Huntsville and Montevallo before drubbing KWC in Owensboro and topping Union at home to close non-conference play. The Bearcats, who are the lone GLVC squad to be ranked this fall, get their first home action in league play this weekend, taking on Drury (RV) on September 27 and Southwest Baptist on September 29 at Leemon Field.

McKendree continues its lone-wolf status for the GLVC, sitting as the solely ranked squad from the league this fall, rising up from No.24 in the first regular season poll of the campaign to No.13 following the third week of action. The Bearcats battled through a tough schedule so far as six of seven games have been on the road with five sitting as true-road contests. McKendree has played on its home turf just once so far on the 2024 campaign, a 2-0 shutout of Union (Tenn.), with the Bearcats getting back to Leemon Field this weekend to host Drury (RV) and SBU. 

The 13th-ranked Bearcats are led by a myriad of players, including two-time GLVC major award winner senior forward Anna Stiffler, who has fired five goals with three dish-outs for 13 points, as well as senior forward Lena Higgins (3g/2a/8p), freshman forward Maddie Mauch (4g/8p), and senior midfielder Katie Spotanski (4g/8p). The scoring does not stop at the top end of the leader board as five more Bearcats have scored goals while seven individuals have dished out assists already on the fall. McKendree outpaces its opponents on both ends of the field, with a 3:1 goal ratio, a 2:1 shots and shots on-frame ratio, as well as putting 0.573 shots on-goal overall.