McKendree University Athletics

MEMPHIS, Tenn. | Signaigo Field - 22nd-ranked McKendree University women's soccer (4-0-0, 0-0-0 GLVC) finished up its non-conference slate on Thursday evening with a commanding 3-0 victory over Christian Brothers down in Tennessee, marking an undefeated start to the 2026 campaign. The contest saw dominance from the Bearcats with another game-winner being fired by junior forward Maddie Mauch, her third of the fall, and two career-firsts with goals by freshman defender Lea Gruber and sophomore defender Ally Wickenhauser. The Bearcats defensive dominance garnered a second consecutive shutout as they enter conference play. McKendree will begin its Great Lakes Valley Conference schedule with Quincy coming to Leemon Field on Sunday, September 6 for a 5:00 PM kick off. 

The Bearcats got the offense moving quickly as it took less than three minutes to put up the first score as Mauch, who scored the last two game winning goals, fired her third of the year at the 2:45 mark via dish out by Wickenhauser. McKendree continued its forward attack throughout the first half with another breakthrough in the 36th minute of action as two freshmen connected in Gruber and midfielder Alana Donnelly, making it a 2-0 contest. The goal marked Gruber's first collegiate goal and points with Donnelly getting her first collegiate assist and point. The Bearcats led 2-0 entering the intermission. 

The latter 45 minutes of action witnessed a quick third strike for the Bearcats with Wickenhauser tallying her first collegiate goal on the assist by sophomore defender Addie Gagen. McKendree led 3-0 and never looked back. 

The Bearcats dominated the day across the board with eight shots and five on-frame while tallying nine corner kicks. The shutout came at the hands of senior goalkeeper Peyton Baker and junior goalkeeper Alyse Day.