SPRINGFIELD, MO. - Senior
Ryan Moylan (Wauwatosa, Wis.) and junior
Garrett Webb (Prairie Village, Kan.) each had a goal and an assist as the Drake men's soccer team clipped Cleveland State, 3-0, to win the championship of the Missouri State Tournament Saturday.
It marked the second straight week the Bulldogs have won a tournament after opening the season on Labor Day weekend by winning the Drake Classic championship.
Even more impressive is the fact that all four of Drake's victories have been shutouts this season.
Edwards, Webb, Moylan and junior Luke Gorczyca (Overland Park, Kan.) were named to the all-tournament team.
Drake took the attack to Cleveland State early with junior Julien Edwards (Ottawa, Ontario, Canada) scoring from a feed by Moylan 10 minutes into the first half.
Moylan then scored a goal from the right wing off an assist by Webb to cap off the first-period scoring for Drake.
"We had a very mature response following our match against Centenary Friday," said Drake soccer coach Sean Holmes. "We were absolutely unstoppable for the first 15 minutes tonight, while firing on all cylinders.
"Dealing with a short turnaround in 22 hours after playing Friday night, we essentially used the same lineup and they responded. So it was satisfying to pick up the victory."
Webb rounded out Drake's scoring from 15 yards out at the 83:12 mark following a feed from sophomore Matt Kuhn (Raytown, Mo.).
Sophomore redshirt Michael Drozd, in his first season as Drake's starting goal keeper, is just three shutouts shy of tying the school single-season record of seven held by Phillip Breuer in 2006 and Adam Busek in 1993.
"Our back four are exceptional because, not only have they anchored a new goalie (Drozd), but they are competent and comfortable on the ball which is uncommon in college soccer," Holmes added.
Drake owned a 15-4 shot advantage over Cleveland State.
Freshman Thomas Ostrander (Fort Dodge, Iowa) led Drake with four shots on goal.
Webb and Gorczyca each had three shots, while junior Kevin Shrout (Lee's Summit, Mo.) had two shots on goal.
Drake will continue its month long road swing by playing at Loyola of Chicago this Friday night (Sept. 12) followed by a Sept. 14 test at Wisconsin-Green Bay.
"When we constructed our nonconference schedule we wanted to increase the level of competition each week," said Holmes. "We will ramp up the level a notch next week."
