DES MOINES, IOWA - Freshman Lauren Berner (Omaha, Neb.) scored the game winning goal in the 104th minute to lift the Drake women's soccer team to its second straight victory with a 1-0 double overtime decision past Western Illinois Sunday at the Cownie Sports Complex.
“The players showed mental toughness, we have been on the other side of close games where we controlled the tempo and we were not going to give that up today,” said Drake Head Coach Lindsey Horner.
Berner scored on a give-and-go off from freshman teammate Danielle Figliola (Longmont, Colo.) and junior Elizabeth Woerle (Coon Rapids, Minn.) at the 104:42 mark, beating Western Illinois goalkeeper Jessica Walsh from the left corner.
It marked the first collegiate goal for Berner who had entered the match with just five shots on the season.
Drake celebrated the opening of a season-long six-game homestand while improving its record to 3-7-1. Western Illinois fell to 4-4-2.
Junior goalkeeper Jenny Schroeder (Albuquerque, N.M.) recorded eight saves against Western Illinois to become Drake's career record holder in saves at 232, surpassing the previous mark of 230 held by Kate Stack from 2002-04.
“Jenny has been phenomenal for us making saves,” said Horner. “Her ability in net coupled with ability to be a team leader makes her a valuable member of the team.”
Drake also set a school record with 17 corner kicks, bettering the previous record of 10 against Weber State in 2005.
Drake recorded a season-high 28 shots, Figliola and Woerle had six and five shots, respectively, for the Bulldogs.
The Bulldogs will host Evansville this Friday at 7 p.m. followed by home matches against Missouri State next Sunday (Oct. 12), South Dakota Oct. 17, North Dakota Oct. 19 and Colorado Oct. 24.
