No.24 Women’s Soccer Shuts Down Union to Close Non-Conference Play Undefeated

LEBANON, Ill. | Leemon Field – McKendree University women’s soccer (4-0-0), the 24th-ranked squad in the nation, closed out its non-conference slate on Wednesday with a 2-0 shutout over Union. The Bearcats opened up Leemon Field for McKendree Athletics in proper fashion with its victory as junior goalkeeper Maicy Mueller added another shutout while goals were fired by senior forward Anna Stiffler and sophomore midfielder Maggie Gleckler. McKendree improved to 3-0-0 over Union with its first two wins coming in 2015 and 2016. The Bearcats begin Great Lakes Valley Conference play on September 15, hitting the road for its opening league bout at Rockhurst.

The Bearcats were poised to continue their season-opening streak while opening their home turf properly and they found a way to do those. In the first half, senior forward Anna Stiffler broke through in the 27th minute with a high header off a corner kick by sophomore midfielder Maggie Gleckler. The shot by Stiffler rose above the Bulldogs’ keeper for her third score of the campaign. Stiffler, who broke the Bearcats’ NCAA Division II goal record last season, now sits just five goals from taking the outright all-time record.

McKendree led the game at the intermission after holding the Bulldogs to just two shots in the first half. The Bearcats continued to push for insurance scores in the second half while holding back Union in a multitude of situations. In the 83rd minute on a free kick attempt, McKendree utilized a strategic setup with Gleckler firing the score off a pass by senior midfielder Reagan Mauch.

The Bearcats held off a vicious push by the Bulldogs, keeping their 2-0 lead through the final horn. Junior keeper Maicy Mueller collected another shutout victory while grabbing four saves on the day.