SEPTEMBER 2, 2011

SAN DIEGO, Calif. - A pair of goals from senior Matt Kuhn (Raytown, Mo./Raytown South) ignited Drake (2-0-1) to a come-from-behind 4-2 men's soccer victory past San Diego (0-2) on Friday (Sept. 2).

"A fantastic performance from our guys tonight to go to a nationally-competitive program like USD," Drake head coach Sean Holmes commented.  "To go down 1-0 on a calamitous goal and come back with such commitment is absolutely incredible.  We learned a lot about our team, our ability to play on the road, our resolve to come back from a deficit and our ability to hold on under enormous pressure and this will pay off in the long run."

"Tonight had a galvanizing effect on our team as our youthful back five grew and played with great composure and our mature and experienced front five were absolutely unstoppable.  I'm not often given to hyperbole, but we had some absolutely outstanding moments tonight."

Patrick Wallen provided the Toreros an early 1-0 advantage connecting off a strike from 15 yards out in the 21st minute (20:44).

"We endured a 20-minute onslaught to begin the game where I thought we might be in trouble and in the end with a valiant effort by them and we withstood the challenge both times," said Holmes.

The lead was short-lived as Kuhn delivered a laser into the upper-third at the 23:39 mark off a deftly placed corner kick by fellow senior Charles Schwartz (Bettendorf, Iowa/Bettendorf).

Less than three minutes later in the 27th minute (26:16), the Bulldogs assumed the lead for good when senior Michael Noonan (Cedar Rapids, Iowa/Xavier) connected on his second tally of the season off passes courtesy of Schwartz and sophomore Addison Eck (Springfield, Ill./Sacred Heart Griffin).

The scoring spree continued with senior Thomas Ostrander (Fort Dodge, Iowa/St. Edmond Catholic) registering a goal at the 28:03 mark to give the Bulldogs a 3-1 advantage.  Schwartz was credited with his third assist of the first half.

Kuhn stretched the margin to 4-1 in the 52nd minute (51:45) accepting passes from the far left courtesy of Schwartz and Ostrander to net a wide-open tally from 15 yards out.

The Toreros were thwarted in a penalty-kick opportunity at the 61:37 as senior Jordan Kadlec (Hiawatha, Iowa/Kennedy) pulled in the timely save off Wallen's attempt.

San Diego added a late goal in the 80th minute (79:46) from Joey Dei Rossi to conclude a 4-2 decision for the Bulldogs.

"We have lots of good players but I firmly believe we have two of the legitimately best players in the country in Matt (Kuhn) and Jordan (Kadlec)," Holmes explained.  "To have a goalkeeper that is so consistent as highlighted by his penalty stop that prevented the game from going to 4-2 with plenty of time remaining and Matt (Kuhn) scoring two goals and acting as the engine at the midfield, there can't be a better left-footed player in college soccer."

The Toreros outshot Drake, 17-12, despite the Bulldogs owning an 8-5 advantage in shots on goal.

Kuhn led Drake with a team-high fours shots, while Noonan, Schwartz and senior Hunter Kennedy (Cedar Rapids, Iowa/Washington) added two shots apiece.  Wallen posted a game-high six shots.

"Thomas (Ostrander) and Hunter (Kennedy) work nicely up front and are complimented by Michael (Noonan) and Charlie (Schwartz)," stated Holmes.  "Charlie's work-rate and creativity tonight was absolutely sublime.  The challenge now is to do this consistently over the long haul of the season."

Kadlec garnered three saves, while Drew Ilijevski recorded four saves for San Diego.

"USD is a legitimate NCAA Tournament team and so for us to get a win on the road proves if not to people across the country possibly more importantly to us that we can be a team to be reckoned with," Holmes commented.

The Bulldogs got strong efforts both in the starting 11 and off the bench as 19 players made it onto the pitch for Drake.

 "What made tonight especially gratifying was we were able to get contributions from 19 players and to be successful you win with collective efforts and that pays off in the long run," said Holmes.  "Our middle 50 was unstoppable and if our back four continues to grow and gel we should tighten things up back over the next couple of weeks."

Drake returns to action on Sunday (Sept. 4) as the Bulldogs battle No. 14 UC Irvine in an 8:00 p.m. CT affair.