DES MOINES, Iowa – The Drake University men's soccer team hosts Evansville on Saturday in Missouri Valley Conference action. Prior to the 3 p.m. match at the Cownie Soccer Complex, Drake will honor its 2017 seniors with an on-field ceremony.
 
Seven student-athletes, Paul Ciszewski (Germantown, Wis.), Gabe Edel (Greenwood, Ind.), Steven Enna (Overland Park, Kan.), Mason Leonard (Overland Park, Kan.), Jake Taylor (Whitefish Bay, Wis.), Ben Troester (North Liberty, Iowa) and Aleksi Tuominen (Helsinki, Finland) will be honored during the senior recognition. Ciszewski has played in 42 career matches, scored two goals and recorded two assists. Edel has played in 64 matches, scored four goals and recorded four assists. Enna has played in just two games this year due to injury, but has played in 53 career games and scored 12 goals with three assists, and earned honorable mention All-MVC honors as a junior. Leonard has played in 62 matches, scored four goals and recorded three assists. Taylor, a graduate transfer from Marquette, has started all 14 matches at defender this year and recorded one assist. Troester has played in 32 matches in his career. Rounding out the group is Tuominen, who transferred to Drake prior to the 2016 season and has played in 31 matches for the Bulldogs.
 
Drake (4-9-1, 1-3-1 MVC) upset then No. 32 and MVC leader Missouri State, 2-1, in its last game on Oct. 14. The Bulldogs jumped out to an early 1-0 lead behind a goal by junior Ryan Merideth (East Moline, Ill.) in the first half. Later after the Bears tied the match at 1-1, sophomore Antonio Sanchez (Coralville, Iowa) scored his first goal of the season in the 83^rd minute to give Drake its first MVC win of the season.
 
Evansville (6-6-1, 0-3-1 MVC) travels to Des Moines in search of its first league win. The Purple Aces play at Lipscomb Wednesday night before the first meeting of the season against the Bulldogs. Evansville, which was picked second in the preseason coaches' poll, is led by senior midfielder Ian McGrath, who is second in the league in goals with eight. The Purple Aces beat the Bulldogs twice last season, including in the first round of the MVC Tournament.
 
The two teams will turn around and play again in Evansville, Ind. on Oct. 28. First kick is scheduled for 5 p.m. and the match will be broadcast on The Valley on ESPN3.