DES MOINES, IOWA - On a night where the Drake women's soccer team honored its eight seniors, it fittingly was senior Crystal Townley (Colorado Spring, Colo./Palmer) and Blair Nelson (Southlake, Texas/Carroll) that lifted the Bulldogs to a 3-0 shutout victory over Indiana State on the strength of three second-half goals on Thursday evening (Oct. 29) at Drake Stadium.

The skies unloaded a deluge of rain on the Drake Stadium turf for nearly the entire contest and it wasn't until the second half that the goals seemingly fell from the sky to ignite Drake to a pivotal Missouri Valley Conference victory over the Sycamores.  The win allowed the Bulldogs to clinch the No. 4 seed in the opening round of the State Farm Missouri Valley Conference Championship and the right to host a rematch with the Sycamores on Sunday (Nov. 1).

Drake improved its ledger to 8-8-3 overall and 3-3 in league play, while the Sycamores fell to 5-9-3 on the year and 2-3-1 in conference action.

"It was nice to see all the little things that we've worked on all season and for the seniors all four years to come to fruition tonight with crisp execution and the seniors fittingly culminating their regular season careers at Drake on such a positive note," Bulldog head coach Lindsey Horner commented.

Slick field conditions permeated the game in the initial stanza, as neither side was effectively able to get their respective offenses clicking with Indiana State maintaining a 5-4 shot advantage.

The Bulldogs stormed out of the gates in the final 45 minutes with renewed energy and the results showed as Townley netted her third goal of the season at the 58:49 mark to give Drake a 1-0 lead. Senior Shannon Schuehle (Shorewood, Minn./Minnetonka) earned her first career assist on the goal as her shot deflected off Indiana State goalkeeper Taylor Nelson and Townley was able to redirect the deflection into the back of the net for what proved to be the game-winning tally.

Coming into the match determined to score a goal on senior night was Nelson, who collected her first tally of the season in the 75th minute (74:42) to extend the Bulldogs' lead to 2-0.  Senior Melissa Lewis (Edina, Minn./Edina) created the opportunity sending a ball in from the corner to freshman Laura Moklestad (Des Moines, Iowa/Roosevelt), who in turn fed Nelson on the opposite corner of the box for the goal.

Townley capped the scoring with her first multiple-goal game of the season netting an unassisted tally at the 82:37 mark.

Buoyed by a 13-3 shot advantage in the second half, Drake outshot the Sycamores, 17-8.  Senior Elizabeth Woerle (Coon Rapids, Minn./Meadow Creek) led the Bulldogs with a game-high six shots, while Nelson and Townley chipped in three shots apiece. Indiana State was directed by three shots courtesy of Katlin Owens.

Sophomore Kourtney Arnold (Norwalk, Iowa/Norwalk) and senior Alyssa Lee (Southlake, Texas/Carroll) combined to register Drake's seventh shutout of the year, with Arnold pulling in three saves.  The tandem of Nelson and Emily Lahay each recorded two saves for the Sycamores.

Drake will look learn from past experience as the Bulldogs defeated Indiana State in the regular season a year ago only to see the Sycamores rise to the challenge of defeating Drake in the tournament.

"We beat Indiana State 3-0 at their place in the regular season last year and then they beat us in the tournament, so we are in a position where we can't take them lightly just because we beat them tonight," Horner explained.  "We have to come prepared because anything can happen in the tournament, but we're pleased that we're in a position to host as opposed to going on the road."

Drake seniors Rachel Gielau (Denver, Iowa/Denver), Karissa Brown (Encinitas, Calif./La Costa Canyon), Nelson, Lee, Woerle, Schuehle, Townley and Lewis were honored in pre-game festivities before their final regular season home game.

The Bulldogs return to the field on Sunday (Nov. 1) hosting the Sycamores.  Exact time and game location will be announced on Friday (Oct. 30).