DES MOINES, IOWA ? Three different Bulldogs notched goals as the Drake men's soccer team earned a 3-2 victory over Missouri Valley Conference foe Western Kentucky Saturday night at the Cownie Soccer Complex.

“We made that much harder than it needed to be,” said Drake head coach Sean Holmes. “Western Kentucky teams always compete with a never say die attitude and if you gift them a silly own goal and an unnecessary penalty, then you are going to make things far more challenging than they need to be.”

Garrett Webb (Prairie Village, Kan.) scored Drake's first goal in the 13th minute (12:39) when he took a rebound of a shot from freshman Matt Kuhn (Raytown, Mo.), which Hilltopper goalkeeper Pat Rickman failed to hang on to. Webb took advantage of the miscue to give the Bulldogs the 1-0 lead.

Western Kentucky's first goal on the night was a result of an own goal by the Bulldogs in the 23rd minute (22:29).

Drake retook the lead in the 48th minute (47:12) when Kevin Shrout (Lee's Summit, Mo.) took a feed from Kuhn and slid into the ball, to send it past Rickman to tally the Bulldogs' second goal of the night.

“I thought we were pretty good most of the time going forward and creating chances but we allowed them to claw back into the game twice when the run of the play meant they weren't really that deserving,” added Holmes.

Kuhn scored a goal of his own on a pass from Shrout in the 67th minute (66:06). Shrout fed the ball to Kuhn in the top of the box, who one-timed a shot to the far post to give Drake its final, 3-2 advantage.

“Again we demonstrated our resilience by plugging away for all 90 minutes,” said Holmes. “That a freshman hit the game winner is indicative of our youth, but that is the nature of our team.”

Ian Smith scored Western Kentucky's second goal on a penalty kick in the 52nd minute (52:35). Smith went to the right as Drake goalkeeper Phillip Breuer (Port Washington, Wis.) dove to the left.

Breuer recorded two saves on the night, while Rickman netted seven.

The Bulldogs outshot the Hilltoppers 17-6, with Webb and Kuhn leading the way for Drake with three shots on goal each.

“It was great to have a nearly fit Keith Gorczyca back in our team although not starting. His experience is always vital,” conclude Holmes. “The sophomores (Clark, Webb, Gorczyca, Edwards, Shrout) continue to be the impressive core of the team.”

Drake, which improved to 9-3-3 and 2-0-1 in MVC play, will return to action at Bradley Oct. 27 at 7 p.m.