LEBANON, Ill. | Leemon Field - McKendree University women's soccer (0-0-4, 0-0-1 GLVC) began Great Lakes Valley Conference action on Sunday afternoon, playing to a 1-1 draw against Rockhurst for a fourth-straight tie to open the 2025 campaign. The Bearcats trailed until late when sophomore forward Maddie Mauch connected on a game-tying score to knot up the contest. McKendree continues its conference-play home stand on September 19 and 21 with battles against Truman State and William Jewell at Leemon Field before hitting the road the following weekend.

The Bearcats looked for footing early as they collected a handful of early chances in the contest, making it deep into the Hawks' defensive third multiple times with five shots in the first 45 minutes overall. Rockhurst managed to strike first with a free kick score in the 12th minute, taking a 1-0 advantage into the halftime intermission period and deep into the second half of play.

McKendree continued its push late, with the 88th minute being the tipping point of the scorching Sunday contest, with Mauch cutting the deficit. The Bearcats sent a ball long with junior forward Aubrey Andrews heading a ball forward as Mauch collected the pass and firing it across the box for her first goal of the season. The two squads spent the final two minutes looking for a break to take the lead with neither able to gain a final advantage. 

McKendree stayed unbeaten on the year with the result with junior goalkeeper Peyton Baker playing a major part in that as she went for seven saves over another game at full-time in net.