No.19/#2 Seed Women’s Soccer Draws Drury in Title Bout, Falls in PKs

CREVE COEUR, Mo. | Creve Coeur Park Soccer Complex – McKendree University women’s soccer (13-1-6, 11-1-2 GLVC), the No.19 team nationally and #2 seed in the GLVC Tournament, battled out a barn-burner against fifth-seeded Drury, playing to a draw before falling in a penalty shootout, 3-2. The Bearcats look ahead to the upcoming NCAA Division II National Tournament after coming in at #3 in the Midwest Region poll last week. McKendree is seeking a ninth-straight national tournament appearance, which marks the longest stretch in the conference. The NCAA Division II Women’s Soccer Selection Show airs live on Monday, November 17 at 5:30PM on NCAA.com.

The first half between the Bearcats and Panthers played out to how one may expect, a near dead-heat with McKendree holding a slight lead in shots and shots-on-goal. the championship game’s first 45 ended with a 0-0 lock for the two squads.

McKendree’s second 45 saw a massive increase in pressure, both applied to Drury and back from the Panthers, with the Bearcats tallying 14 shots with eight going on-frame. McKendree found the crossbar more time than anyone could count but was unable to punch one through. Leading the attacking charge was freshman forward Lyla Karolczak, who put up three shots on-goal while tallying six overall, while junior midfielder Maggie Gleckler and junior defender Zoe Cormier each blasted two on-frame. Gleckler finished with six total shots and Cormier put up three. Neither team was able to find the back of the net in the latter 45 minutes of regulation or tallying a goal in the overtime periods. 

The junior goalkeeper for the Bearcats, Peyton Baker, collected six saves in regulation and overtime to lock down her goal for her 12th shutout of the season. 

In the penalty shootout, Mckendree grabbed two saved PKs with Baker holding true but could not put through a third score to tie up the PK session, leading to Drury claiming the title after a draw, 3-2.