QUINCY, Ill. – Rebecca Rheinheimer of Quincy University women's soccer has been named the QU Toyota Star of the Week after recording her first hat trick in a Hawks uniform and helping Quincy to an undefeated week in Great Lakes Valley Conference play.
The Hawks went 1-0-1 across two conference matchups, battling Maryville to a scoreless draw on Wednesday before earning a crucial 3-1 victory over Southwest Baptist on Senior Day Saturday. Rheinheimer played 150 minutes across the two contests, totaling 10 shots with seven on goal while scoring all three of Quincy's goals in the victory over the Bearcats.
Rheinheimer opened the week with three shots, including one on goal, in Quincy's 0-0 draw against Maryville. The Hawks earned a point against a Saints squad sitting near the top of the GLVC standings, setting the stage for an important Senior Day matchup three days later.
The senior delivered one of the biggest individual performances of the season against Southwest Baptist, scoring three second-half goals to lead Quincy to its fifth conference victory of the year.
After a scoreless opening half, Rheinheimer broke the deadlock in the 61st minute, converting a penalty kick to give the Hawks a 1-0 advantage. Just over three minutes later, she struck again in the 64th minute, finishing a chance set up by Emily Richardson to double the Quincy lead.
Rheinheimer completed her hat trick in the 84th minute, finding the back of the net off an assist from Jessie Newton to extend the Hawks' advantage to 3-0. Southwest Baptist added a late goal, but Quincy secured the 3-1 victory in its Senior Day celebration.
The three-goal performance marked Rheinheimer's first hat trick in a Quincy uniform, her second multi-goal game of the season and the third of her Hawks career. She finished the contest with seven shots, placing six on goal, while playing 69 minutes.
Through 14 matches this season, Rheinheimer has started every contest and totaled 1,036 minutes on the field. She leads the Hawks with 10 goals and 22 points while adding two assists and three game-winning goals.
Her offensive production has also placed her among the top performers in the GLVC. Rheinheimer's 10 goals are tied for second in the conference, while her three game-winning goals are also tied for second. Her 22 total points rank second among all GLVC players.
With three regular-season matches remaining, Quincy sits fifth in the GLVC standings with a 5-2-4 conference record and a 5-3-6 overall mark. The Hawks have collected 19 conference points and remain firmly in the race for postseason positioning. The top eight teams qualify for the GLVC Tournament, with the top four earning the opportunity to host a quarterfinal matchup
Rheinheimer and the Hawks will return to Legends Stadium for their final regular-season home match on Wednesday, Oct. 14, when they welcome Upper Iowa. Kickoff is scheduled for 3 PM.
