DES MOINES, Iowa – The defending Missouri Valley Conference champion Drake University women's soccer team opened up the exhibition portion of its schedule with a 3-1 win over Northern Illinois on Wednesday evening at Cownie Soccer Complex. Junior Hannah Wilder (Wheatfield, Ind.) scored a pair of goals in the win that was played in three, 30-minute periods.
"It was tired performance because we've trained so hard in the preseason, but we started a lot of young players and it was a great experience getting everyone on the same page," said Drake head coach Lindsey Horner. "We found out more about what our new players are capable of and we're excited about that."
One of those new players, freshman Shelley Lyjak (Bartlett, Ill.), started the scoring for the Bulldogs in the seventh minute with a pass that Wilder headed over the keeper to give the Bulldogs a 1-0 lead. Wilder nearly scored moments earlier on a similar play but her header caromed off the crossbar.
NIU answered four minutes later when a long pass from goalkeeper Amy Annala found Taylor Sarver at the top of the box. Two dribbles later, Sarver scooted a long ball into the far corner of the net to even the score in the first period.
More than an hour of scoreless play followed until Wilder, who was nearly on the ground, tapped in a ball from two yards deflected by both the NIU keeper and a defender in the 74th minute. The loose ball was the result of a strong service into the box by sophomore Linda Fiorito (Overland Park, Kan.).
Nine minutes later, Drake put the contest away for good when junior Kasey Hurt (Ankeny, Iowa) took a free kick from approximately 30 yards that floated over the keeper's outstretched fingers.
The Bulldogs held an 11-6 advantage in shots with five of their shots being on frame as 22 total players saw action. Junior Haley Morris (Clive, Iowa) played the first and third periods in goal for the Bulldogs and recorded a save. Reigning MVC Goalkeeper of the Year Brooke Dennis (Wauconda, Ill.) played the second period and kept a clean sheet in the period.
The team returns to Cownie Soccer Complex on Saturday afternoon to host Minnesota in its final exhibition of the season. Kickoff is set for 6 p.m.
