The Bulldogs improved their ledger to 2-1 on the year with the triumph, while the Golden Eagles dropped to 1-1.

"Not every Division I team in America decided to go with three games in the opening six days of the season so I'm proud of our guys to have risen to the occasion," Drake head coach Sean Holmes commented.  "We knew that it would be hard and to come back after a heartbreaking loss versus Michigan showed their resolve."

The Bulldogs dictated the pace of play in the initial 45 minutes outshooting the Golden Eagles, 7-3, while enjoying an 8-1 advantage in corner kicks. Six different Drake players registered a shot in the first half.

Junior Matt Kuhn (Raytown, Mo./Raytown South) put the Bulldogs on the board first at the 63:34 mark breaking free in the box to accept a long ball from redshirt junior goalkeeper Michael Drozd (Harwood Heights, Ill./Loyola Academy) that he fired into the upper left corner for his initial goal of the season.  The assist was the first in the collegiate career for Drozd.

Senior Kevin Shrout (Lee's Summit, Mo./Lee's Summit) extended the lead to 2-0 converting on a penalty kick in the 68th minute (67:59).

Drake finished the game with a 13-6 advantage in shots, led by four from Shrout and three from Kuhn. Marquette was paced by two shots from Calum Wallace.

Holmes was proud of his team's efforts both against Marquette and in the opening week where the Bulldogs faced three games in six days.

"We had almost the entire team play 90 minutes three times in six days is really a tribute to their fitness and character," Holmes explained.  "I thought Ted (Schleisman) was very good in his first start of the season.  Matt (Kuhn) finding the scoring touch was really nice and as always to get Mike (Drozd) to start the season with two shutouts is really good."

Drozd registered his second shutout of the year and seventh of his career.  Matt Pyzdrowski pulled in five saves for Marquette.

Senior Garrett Webb (Prairie Village, Kan./Shawnee Mission East) was again an offensive catalyst for the Bulldogs, despite being held off the scoreboard for the first time this season, while Holmes also credited the play of senior Luke Gorczyca (Overland Park, Kan./St. Thomas Aquinas) in Drake's success.

"Though Garrett (Webb) didn't score, the work he does and the chances he creates for himself and others is really awesome," Holmes commented.  "I don't know how you put a value on Luke Gorczyca's contributions, that guy plays 90 minutes every game, battles, wins balls, connects passes and really in many ways the heart of the team." 

The Bulldogs have experienced a new level of intensity from their opponents this season after earning a school-record 13 wins a year ago as they have gone from the hunters to the hunted and Drake is still adjusting to that role according to Holmes.

"This is new territory for us to play that teams that are playing to defend us," Holmes said.  "I think we had four corners and fours shots in the first six minutes and we were camped out in the half we have to do better.  That is still a relatively young team we were playing and if we really want to be good we have to put away teams in the 10th minute rather than the 64th."

Making their collegiate debuts in the affair were redshirt freshmen Jordan Stanley (Roscoe, Ill./Harlem) and Colin Lawter (Wichita, Kan./Wichita Southeast) along with true freshman David Parato (St. Louis, Mo./Chaminade Prep).

The Bulldogs return to action on Friday (Sept. 11) versus UAB at the UAB "Soccer For A Cure" Classic in Birmingham, Ala.  Game time is slated for 7:30 p.m.