KANSAS CITY, MO. - On the strength of a pair of second-half goals the Drake men's soccer team garnered a road shutout with a 2-0 exhibition victory over UMKC on Friday (Aug. 27).

"Once again a very encouraging night as we were able to play a lot of first-year players, both true freshman and redshirt freshman against a very good team," Bulldog head coach Sean Holmes commented.  "UMKC was picked to win the Summit League this year and they play in a really challenging atmosphere with a big crowd, opening weekend of school for both sides, so it is tough to deal with the pressure." 

The Kangaroos nearly cracked the scoring column in the initial stanza only to see an apparent goal waved off when UMKC was whistled for an offside call.

"I think we got a little bit lucky as they got a goal called back that may or may not have been and we got one that may or may not have been but that is the nature of sports," said Holmes.  "I thought we were composed and that is important because we have a heck of a start to our schedule and so we need to be prepared to encounter a little bit of adversity." 

In the 65th minute (64:59) freshman Brian Grand (North Branch, Minn./North Branch) connected on a 1v1 with UMKC goalkeeper Ken Cooper knocking in the rebound off of the block to give Drake a 1-0 lead.  Credited with the assist on the play was freshman Nick Marshall (Glen Carbon, Ill./Edwardsville).

Freshman Addison Eck (Springfield, Ill./Sacred Heart Griffin) closed out the scoring delivering a free kick into the upper left corner of the net from the top of the box at the 70:32 mark.

"Addison Eck's free kick goal was particularly spectacular and for both goals to come and be set up by freshman is good not only for the short-term but long-term health of the program," stated Holmes.

The Bulldogs outshot the Kangaroos in the affair, 13-12, led by a game-high four shots from Grand. 

Drake closes out its exhibition campaign with a 3:00 p.m. tilt at Coe College on Sunday (Aug. 29).