ST. LOUIS, Mo. -- Sunday marked Senior Day for the Tritons women's soccer program (8-7-2, 6-6-2).

The team entered the tilt sporting an 8-6-2 overall record, as the Tritons have come into their own of late.

Unfortunately, UMSL fell to McKendree, 3-1, on Senior Day as Esther Robinson, Peyton McNabb, and Allysiah Belt were all recognized prior to the tilt.

The loss wasn't the way the Triton wanted to close out the regular season, but there was a silver lining, with Drury defeating Illinois Springfield: putting the Tritons in the 2021 GLVC Tournament for the first time under second-year Tritons head coach Maddi Moon.

"I am super proud of this group and the strides we have taken in the past year. I think being able to clinch a spot in the conference tournament really shows the hard work the girls have put in and how much growth we have had just from the beginning of the season to now," Moon said. "I am looking forward to getting reset and refocus on the new task and new season and hopefully make a run in the tournament. I think this program is doing nothing but headed in the right direction. Every game we have and every practice we have we are always finding ways to get better and it's fun to see."

McKendree scored first on Anna Stiffler's goal seven minutes into the contest, as the offense primarily goes through field general.

Stiffler scored again with 10 minutes remaining in regulation, and Katie Spotanski split the bookends of Stiffler, finding the net 12 minutes into the second half.

For the Tritons, Kelli Jungewaelter's shot found the low right part of the net with a little more than 13 minutes remaining in regulation.

As for the aforementioned seniors, Moon addressed each one.

Belt:

"Lys has been our backbone at center back and as a captain. She has been a great leader for us and I am so glad we were able to take her to post season for her final season. She has had to overcome so many obstacles with injuries and setbacks and comes back so much stronger each time and has become a crucial part of our team and back line. She's such a consistent player and it has been so much fun to be able to coach her," Moon said.

McNabb:

"Peyton is an absolute beast. She came in last year fresh off of an ACL. She then started playing a position she had never played before and she ending up fighting to win a starting job and hasn't looked back. She's super athletic and such a fun player to watch play. She would run through a brick wall for this team and is so determined to be the best player she can be. She always works relentlessly and it has been such a privilege to coach her," Moon said.

Robinson:

Said Moon: "Esther is such a joy to coach because every day I know she leaves it all out of the field. She works harder than anyone and never stops. Her attitude and mentality is something that our entire team looks up to and what makes her so much fun to coach. She is an outstanding teammate and I am so glad I had the opportunity to coach her."

The Tritons are the No. 8 seed, and at the time of this postgame story, the Tritons will face McKendree in the first round of the postseason tournament.