The UIS women's soccer team starts their postseason journey in the GLVC Quarterfinals on Sunday afternoon. The Prairie Stars will travel to Lebanon, Ill. to take on the McKendreeBearcats at 12:00 p.m.
(6) Illinois Springfield (8-6-3, 8-5-1 GLVC)
UIS finished the season sixth in the GLVC standings, marking a program-best with eight conference wins and 25 points. This is the fourth appearance for UIS in the GLVC postseason and third-straight.
The Prairie Stars finished the season strong, with well-deserved victories in their final two home games . On Friday night, the team recognized their ten seniors and sent them off with a 1-0 win. The lone goal of the game came in the 53rd minute to ease a tense first half. Katelynn Ward was able to rise highest and head home her sixth goal of the season off yet another Brooke Biffar corner kick. Biffar also registered her seventh assist of the season. UIS was able to remain on the front foot the remainder of the contest to earn the win. UIS outshot UIU 11-2, with a 6-1 advantage in shots on goal.
The Prairie Stars capped off their regular season at home with an impressive 3-0 win against the Lewis Flyers at Kiwanis Stadium, stretching their shutout streak to three games. Both teams had their postseason paths set, with UIS locked into the sixth seed and Lewis just missing a playoff spot. The first goal came in the 19th minute when UIS forced a turnover in the attacking half. Katelyn Cavanaugh threaded a perfect ball to Katelynn Ward, who calmly slotted into the corner for her seventh goal of the year. Emily Tully doubled the lead with a 30-yard shot, marking her first career goal. Before halftime, Madison Grandys made it 3-0 by confidently converting a penalty kick in the 42nd minute. Lewis ramped up their offense, but UIS held strong to secure the shutout victory. UIS outshot Lewis 11-7, with a 7-2 advantage in shots on goal.
UIS is tied for sixth in the GLVC with 24 goals scored this season. Katelynn Ward leads the team with seven goals, while Brooke Biffar tops the squad with seven assists. Goalkeeper Allison Mirimanian has started all 17 games, allowing 17 goals on the year.
(3) McKendree (14-3-1, 10-3-1 GLVC)
The Bearcats finished the season in third place, marking their tenth consecutive appearance in the GLVC Tournament. McKendree and Rockhurst both finished with 31 points, but McKendree won the head-to-head tiebreaker, thanks to a 3-2 victory in the first conference game of the season.
McKendree closed out the regular season with two victories, extending their winning streak to five games. The Bearcats are currently ranked No. 7 in the Midwest Regional Rankings. On Friday, they cruised to a 4-0 win over Quincy. The scoring began in the 13th minute when Anna Stiffler followed up a shot and finished into an open net. In the 33rd minute, Stiffler set up Maggie Gleckler, who fired in a shot to double the lead. The Bearcats continued to press in the second half, with Aubrey Andrews scoring her third goal of the season in the 50th minute. The Stiffler-Gleckler combination struck again in the 72nd minute, as Gleckler assisted Stiffler for her 14th goal of the season. McKendree outshot Quincy 24-5, including a 10-2 advantage in shots on goal.
Sunday's game against Upper Iowa was a must-win for both teams, with playoff seeding on the line. McKendree took control early, with Anna Stiffler setting up Reagan Mauch for the opening goal in the 38th minute. The Bearcats continued to press offensively, creating several chances, but were unable to add to their lead. Meanwhile, the McKendree defense stood firm to secure the critical three points. The Bearcats outshot Upper Iowa 15-6, including a 5-3 advantage in shots on goal.
McKendree is tied for the highest-scoring team in the GLVC, having netted 51 goals this season. Anna Stiffler leads the conference in goals with 14, while Lena Higgins has scored 10. Stiffler also leads the team in assists with 9, followed closely by Higgins and Reagan Mauch, who each have 6 assists. Maicy Mueller has started 15 games in goal for McKendree, allowing 14 goals.
UIS vs McKendree History
UIS is 1-14 all-time against McKendree. The Bearcats defeated the Prairie Stars 2-0 on Oct. 18, with a goal in each half. The lone UIS victory came in 2014, when the Prairie Stars won 1-0. McKendree has won the last ten matchups between the teams.