FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
SEPT. 12, 2008
DRAKE SOCCER TEAM REMAINS UNDEFEATED: KEEPS NCAA LEADING SHUTOUT STRING ALIVE
CHICAGO, ILL. ? The Drake men's soccer team overcame a steady downpour of rain to improve its record to 5-0 ? the best start in school history ?by earning a 2-0 victory past No. 24 ranked Loyola of Chicago Friday night.
The Bulldogs joined Georgetown as the only NCAA soccer programs which have opened the 2008 campaign by posting five straight shutouts.
A tap-in goal by junior Kevin Shrout (Lee's Summit, Mo.) from five yards out in the 23rd minute was all Drake needed.
Loyola brought a 3-0-1 record into the match, opening the season with a 2-1 home victory against Santa Clara which was ranked No. 5 in the NCAA preseason poll.
"To go to a challenging environment and a get a shutout victory was something of an accomplishment ," said Drake head soccer coach Sean Holmes. "I'm not certain that people around the country had given our Drake program any respect. And given the results Loyola had enjoyed with wins against Denver and Santa Clara makes this victory something of a statement."
Junior forward Garrett Webb (Prairie Village, Kan.) added a goal from left wing on cross kick by freshman Hunter Kennedy (Cedar Rapids, Iowa) from the right corner late in the second half.
"It was an exciting college soccer game on a wet, fast field turf," said Holmes. "That easily was the most up tempo match we've played this season."
Drake had 11 shots, including three by junior Luke Gorczyca (Overland Park, Kan.) and two from Shrout and Kennedy. Loyola cleared thee off the line, including two in the first half. The Bulldogs had four shots on goal compared to two by Loyola.
Drake sophomore goal keeper Michael Drozd (Hartwood Heights, Ill.) celebrated a homecoming of sorts by recording his fifth solo shutout. Drozd, who attended nearby Loyola Academy, moved into third on the Drake single-season solo shutout list.
"It was really a great homecoming for Michael (Drozd) and to get a shutout was pretty special. As always our back four played solid," Holmes added.
The Bulldogs, who tied a school record with their fifth straight victory, will play their third straight Horizon League opponent when they travel to Green Bay Sunday.
Drake remained ranked No. 1 nationally in four NCAA team statistical categories: won-loss-tied percentage (1.0); team goals-against-average (0.0); shutout percentage (1.0), and save percentage (1.0).
