(Indianapolis, Ind., Nov. 6) – The McKendree University women's soccer team has been crowned the 2016 Great Lakes Valley Conference (GLVC) Champions with their 2-1 victory over Rockhurst University on Sunday afternoon at Carroll Stadium in Indianapolis, Indiana.

This is the Bearcats first GLVC championship title since they have joined the conference in 2012.

"It's the players, they fought and fought to get this victory it's all them," said women's head soccer coach Tim Strange.

The Hawks outshot the Bearcats 14-6 in the contest, however McKendree would put five of their six shots on goal, with two of them finding the back of the net.

In the 13^th minute of play Kaley Neiters would put Rockhurst on the board as she found the back of the net from just inside the box.

Alyssa Reiniger (Maryville, IL/Collinsville) would draw the match to 1-1 in the 55^th minute as she buried a goal coming from Sydnee Carroll (Millstadt, IL/Belleville West)'s header.

The remainder of the second period McKendree and Rockhurst would trade shots but neither were able to strike gold sending the match into overtime.

Sydnee Carroll (Millstadt, IL/Belleville West) put her offensive talent on display in the first overtime as she ended the match in the 93^rd minute as she stripped a Rockhurst defender and placed the ball just inside the far post to give McKendree the 2-1 victory.

Zoe Brochu (Ajax, Ontario, Canada/Pickering ) was in net for McKendree collecting four saves during the contest.

The Bearcats have received an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament which will begin Friday, Nov. 11. The NCAA will announce the seeding of the teams which will determine the bracket of the NCAA Tournament during the selection show on Monday, Nov. 7 at 6 p.m. ET.