ST. LOUIS – The Maryville women's soccer team begins its quest for NCAA glory this Friday, hosting the second NCAA Midwest Regional at Maryville Soccer Field.
 
The Saints (15-0-3, 13-0-1 GLVC) will face Great Lakes Valley Conference rival McKendree (16-4-1, 10-3-1 GLVC) at 1 p.m. in the second of two first-round games at Maryville. The day's first match, featuring GLVC Tournament Champion Missouri-St. Louis (14-3-3, 9-3-2 GLVC) and the Grand Valley State Lakers (12-1-7, 8-1-5 GLIAC), kicks off at 10 a.m.
 
All three NCAA Tournament games will be streamed live on the GLVC Sports Network at GLVCSN.com, as well as on Android and iOS mobile apps and OTT platforms, including Apple TV, Roku, Amazon Fire TV, and Android TV.
 
For fans travelling for the regional, tickets will be $10 for general admission and $5 for kids 12 or under and Maryville students with ID. More information such as where to park can be found on the tournament homepage.
 
TALE OF THE TAPE
This will be the second meeting this season between the Bearcats and Saints, with the previous matchup finding itself in a 1-1 draw after 90 minutes of action. The Bearcats were one of only four teams to score against the Saints during the regular season. In that contest, Maryville controlled the pace, outshooting McKendree 18-7.
 
The Saints enter the NCAA Tournament boasting the fourth-best scoring offense in Division II, averaging 2.94 goals per game through 18 matches. The Bearcats are not far behind, ranking 14th nationally with 2.67 goals per game.
 
Defensively, Maryville stands out as well, ranking fifth in the nation in goals-against average, having conceded just six goals all season. McKendree's defense, while strong, has allowed an average of one goal per game.
 
Both teams feature standout players. Maryville led the conference in All-GLVC selections, earning four major awards—the first time in program history the Saints have claimed more than two in a single season. Elsa Nilson-Hurtig was named Co-Offensive Player of the Year, Lotte Brands earned Defensive Player of the Year honors, and Agnes Vilen was recognized as Goalkeeper of the Year. Lori Lawson, for the second consecutive season, was named GLVC Coach of the Year, becoming the first coach in program history to earn the honor multiple times.
 
McKendree also excelled with six All-GLVC honorees. Freshman Maddie Mauch earned GLVC Freshman of the Year, while Anna Stiffler, the team's leader, was the Bearcats' lone First-Team selection.