SPRINGFIELD, IL – McKendree University fought off the University of Illinois Springfield (UIS) women's soccer team by capturing a 1-0 victory during Friday's Great Lakes Valley Conference (GLVC) matchup.

The Bearcats (7-0-1, 5-0-1) currently sit atop the GLVC standings and are ranked No. 16 in the latest United Soccer Coaches (USC) NCAA Division II poll.

McKendree took a 1-0 lead over the Prairie Stars (6-3-2, 3-3-1) when Jane Skaggs corralled a deflection and found the back of the net 15 minutes into the first period. Skaggs recorded her second game-winning goal of the season.

UIS saw a solid scoring opportunity during the 17th minute. Madisyn Coudriet delivered a corner kick. In a scrum for the ball, Karisa Rogers fired a header that hit the crossbar.
UIS was awarded another corner kick, but McKendree held off the UIS attack. During the 31st minute, Amanda Meyer connected a pass to Maggie Juhlin who sent an upfield pass to Taylor Mraz. The pass created a 50-50 ball in a one-on-one situation, but McKendree goalkeeper Zoe Brochu just beat Mraz to the ball.

During the 34th minute, McKendree had a look to take a two-score lead when Grace Neidhardt fired a flip throw-in to Sydnee Carroll. Carroll headed the ball, but UIS goalkeeper Paloma Guijarro rejected the shot.

The Bearcats locked in defensively during the second half in an effort to maintain their one-goal lead. As a result, UIS controlled possession for most of the second half.

"I'm also incredibly please with our performance [on Friday]. We were great in possession and took care of the ball."

Amanda Meyer contributed a shot two minutes into the second half that was saved.

Kimmie Rickson, Amanda Meyer and Juhlin each provided shots on goal for UIS. Juhlin tallied three shots while the Prairie Stars received shots from Rickson, Rogers, Emily Matsen, Amanda Meyer, Kayla Meyer and Kaylan Mills.

Alynnah O'Leary registered two shots on goal for McKendree while Carroll, Skaggs and Liz Kaiser added a shot on target. Carroll leads the conference with 17 points behind six goals and five assists, but the UIS defense was able to limit Carroll to one shot.

Brochu sent away each of the three shots she faced and put together her fifth shutout of the season. She currently leads the conference with a .935 save percentage. Guijarro faced five shots and notched four saves.

The Prairie Stars close the GLVC weekend by battling the University of Southern Indiana (4-2-3, 2-1-3) on Sunday at 2:30 p.m. at Kiwanis Stadium.

"We need to recover quickly and come back ready on Sunday. Our team has shown what they can do and if we continue to play the way we did [on Friday], we are going to have a lot of success."