Complete Game Notes
Game #3: Lincoln (1-1, 0-0 GLVC) at Illinois-Springfield (2-1, 0-0 GLVC)
Date: Saturday, Sept. 5, 2026
Time: 6:00 p.m. CDT
Site: Springfield, Ill.
Venue: Kiwanis Stadium
Live Stats: https://uisprairiestars.com/sidearmstats/wsoc
Live Video: https://www.glvcsn.com/lincolnbluetigers/
 
THE KICKOFF:  The Lincoln women's soccer team opens its GLVC slate on Saturday night (Sept. 5) when the Blue Tigers travel to Springfield, Ill. to play Illinois-Springfield at 6:00 p.m. CDT. This match was originally scheduled for earlier in the day, but was moved due to forecasts of extreme heat in Springfield on Saturday. Lincoln, now in its third season as a program, is coming off a 3-2 home win over Harris Stowe last Sunday (Aug. 30). The Blue Tigers will try to open a league slate 1-0 for the first time ever against the Prairie Stars, which are 2-1 on the season after beating Alabama-Huntsville and Purdue Northwest and falling to Trevecca Nazarene. Saturday is the home opener for UIS.
 
WARM UPS
- Illinois-Springfield is 2-0 all-time against Lincoln.
 
- The Blue Tigers are seeking their first GLVC win since beating Upper Iowa, 2-0, on the road on Oct. 19, 2025.
 
- Lincoln went 1-1 in non-conference play with the win over Harris Stowe and a late 2-1 home loss to Missouri Southern.

PREVIEWING THE BLUE TIGERS:  Lincoln has used two goalkeepers, with Kristin Oliver earning the win over Harris Stowe while Kanon Dehama made six saves against Missouri Southern. Four different Blue Tigers have scored goals: Natalie Bevan, Leah Serritos, Mia Greathouse and Sofia Valdivia. Vanessa Dagher, Madison Wimberly and Rachel Noel each had recorded assists.
 
 
HEAD COACH LEAH STRINGER:  With a pair of wins in LU's first-ever matches, Leah Stringer is off to a strong start as the coach of the Blue Tigers. No stranger to NCAA Division II or the great state of Missouri, Stringer is in her third year coaching LU after spending the previous three seasons as an assistant at Missouri Western. She helped lead the Griffons to the No. 13 national ranking in 2021 and helped the team post a .708 win percentage that season.
 
LAST TIME OUT
Missouri Southern 2, Lincoln 1
Leah Serritos scored on a penalty kick to send the match into halftime tied 1-1, but the Lions scored in the 88th minute to escape Jefferson City with the victory on Aug. 28. Kanon Dehama made six saves while Mia Greathouse had two shots on goal.
 
Lincoln 3, Harris Stowe 2
Natalie Bevan's goal in the third minute gave LU an early lead, which the Blue Tigers maintained into halftime. In the second half, Mia Greathouse and Sofia Valdivia each scored in the span of just 3:13 to seal the victory. Kristin Oliver made a pair of saves and Bevan led Lincoln with three shots on the net.
 
SCOUTING THE PRAIRIE STARS:  Addi Wittenberg has a goal and an assist on the season while three other players have one goal each: Autumn Diduch, Maddie Festerling and Mallory Herber. Riley Lloyd has the other assist for the Prairie Stars. Gigi Yurevich has played all 270 minutes in the goal and has made six saves while allowing three scores.
 
STRAIGHT SHOOTERS:  When the Blue Tigers try a shot, it tends to go towards the net. On 20 total attempts in 2026, Lincoln has 14 shots on goal, an accuracy rating of .700. That marks is leading the GLVC and ranks as the 13th-best in Division II. Individually, Natalie Bevan leads LU with an accuracy rate of .750, the third-best in the GLVC.
 
WITH THE SAVE:  Kanon Dehama has played just one game in goal, but made six saves, and her 6.0 save per game rate is the seventh-best in the GLVC and the 41st-best in Division II. Her six total saves also rank as the 12th-most by any keeper in the conference. As a team, LU is ninth in the league in saves per game and 11th in the GLVC in save percentage (.667).
 
ON THE OFFENSIVE:  Natalie Bevan has tried four shots this fall, and three of those were on the goal. Mia Greathouse has attempted three shots, all of which have been on goal. Both players have scored a goal this season. Vanessa Dagher, who has an assist, and TeTee Jallah are next on the team with two shots on goal apiece.
 
HOME ADVANTAGE:  Lincoln's scheduled to play more home matches than away games in 2026, with each of the Blue Tigers' first two games being played in Jefferson City. After that, Lincoln will play four road matches compared to three home contests in September, but in October is home four times while on the road for three games.
 
SEEKING A STRONG START:  If the Blue Tigers beat Illinois-Springfield, it will be the first time in the brief three-year history of women's soccer at Lincoln that the team has opened its league slate with a victory. In its first season in existence, LU won each of its four non-conference matches, but dropped its first two GLVC contests before a 1-0 road win at Southwest Baptist. Last season, the Blue Tigers won their first GLVC match in the month of October against Upper Iowa, 2-0.
 
NO PENALTY FOR HER:  Leah Serritos made Lincoln's only penalty shot attempt of 2026 vs. Missouri Southern. She is one of just three players in the GLVC with a penalty goal and one of only 42 in NCAA Division II.
 
JOIN THE CLUB:  The Blue Tiger Athletics Club is a great way to engage with other LU fans while supporting all Lincoln student-athletes. Every dollar raised by the club goes towards scholarships, improving the facilities and purchasing equipment. To join the BTAC, or to learn more, please visit www.LUBlueTigers.com/BTAC.
 
WATCH LIVE:  Fans who are unable to attend a game in person will still be able to cheer on their Blue Tigers to victory via the GLVC Sports Network. All nine Lincoln home games will be broadcast live and can be watched at https://www.glvcsn.com/lincolnbluetigers/.
 
GEAR UP FOR THE GAME:  Lincoln fans can get everything they need for the game at www.BlueTigersStore.com, the official online store for LU athletics. Everything from jerseys to office supplies can be found on the site, with a portion of all online sales going to benefit Lincoln athletics.
 
NEXT UP:  Lincoln plays its first home GLVC match of the season on Wednesday (Sept. 9) against McKendree at 5:00 p.m. CDT at Capital City High School.