LEBANON, Ill. – For the first time in program history, Maryville women's soccer won the Great Lakes Valley Conference Championship with a 2-1 victory over the University of Illinois Springfield. The Saints made goals from Madison Canoy and Lexi Gentry stand up for their first conference title in women's soccer history.
 
UIS kickstarted the action at 11:26 with the first shot on goal at the game. Corinne Stewart saw an opening and fired a shot to be denied by starting goalkeeper Katie Nash.
 
Gina Catanzaro tried a shot but missed high at 18:48, followed immediately after by another save from Nash on Abby Dellamorte. Once they got possession, the Saints moved into the offensive zone ready to do some damage.
 
Maryville earned a corner kick and sent Madison Canoy to take it. Canoy lofted a high shot attempt around the post, off a Prairie Star defender, and into the back of the net for a 1-0 lead. Erin Barnes tried to double the lead at 30:34 but was turned away by UIS goalkeeper Allison Mirimanian to keep it a 1-0 until halftime.
 
Just seven minutes into the second half, Lexi Gentry added to the lead with a long shot attempt. The San Diego native sent a deep shot that Mirimanian could not handle for her team-leading seventh goal of the season.
 
At 61:42, UIS cut into the lead with a goal from Abby Dellamorte. Six minutes later, Katelyn Cavanaugh tried to tie the game but was again stopped by Nash.
 
The Prairie Stars held possession of the ball for the majority of the remaining minutes in the game. With five seconds left, the Saints defended a corner kick perfectly to seal up a 2-1 final score and the first championship in their program's history.
 
Maryville wraps up the GLVC Tournament with its 11th win of the season while earning an automatic bid into the NCAA Tournament. Their matchup for the first round of the NCAA Tournament will be revealed in the NCAA Selection Show on Monday, Nov. 7, at 6 p.m. More information on the selection show can be found here.