CINCINATTI, Ohio – The Drake men's soccer team opens its 2017 season at Xavier on Sunday, Aug. 27. First kick against the Musketeers is scheduled for 4 p.m. CDT.
 
Drake went 2-1 in the preseason with exhibition wins over Iowa Western and Northern Illinois and its lone defeat to No. 10 Notre Dame. The preseason slate gave third-year head coach Gareth Smith a chance to play many of his younger players. The team has 11 newcomers this season along with seven players that redshirted in 2016. One of those newcomers, freshman Leroy Enzugusi (Marion, Iowa), scored three goals in the three exhibitions. Redshirt goalkeeper Caden McCullough (Evansville, Ind.) started all three matches, highlighted by posting a shutout in the 4-0 win over the Huskies. McCullough takes over Darrin MacLeod, who graduated as the all-time leader in nearly every statistical category and is now playing in the United Soccer League with the Swope Park Rangers.
 
The Bulldogs have 10 returning players with significant experience, led by senior Steven Enna (Overland Park, Kan.), who earned his first career All-Missouri Valley Conference honors last season. Enna is Drake's top returning scorer with five goals in 2016. He was selected to the 2017 MVC Preseason All-Conference team.
 
Also, back for the Bulldogs are seniors Gabe Edel (Greenwood, Ind.), Mason Leonard (Overland Park, Kan.) and Aleksi Tuominen (Helsinki, Finland) along with juniors Paul Ciszewski (Germantown, Wis.), Nic Jaimes (Olathe, Kan.), Ryan Merideth (East Moline, Ill.) and Ben Troester (North Liberty, Iowa). Sophomores Antonio Sanchez (Iowa City, Iowa) and Scott Misselhorn (Cape Town, South Africa) round out the group.
 
Xavier will begin its season Friday against Loyola. The Musketeers finished 8-8-3 overall in 2016 and this year have been picked to finish sixth in the BIG EAST Preseason Coaches poll. Xavier is led by senior defender Cory Brown who was named Preseason Defensive Player of the Year and was one of two unanimous selections to the 2017 preseason all-league squad. Brown was tabbed the 2016 BIG EAST Defender of the Year.
 
Following the Xavier match, Drake will visit Air Force on Sept. 1. The Bulldogs will stay in Colorado to play at 2016 College Cup participant, Denver, on Sept. 3.