ST. LOUIS, Mo. - The Missouri Valley Conference has announced that Drake redshirt junior Rich Gallagher (Lake Bluff, Ill./Lake Forest Academy) has been named the league's Men's Soccer Defensive Player of the Week.  Gallagher is being honored for the first time in his Drake career.

In Drake's double-overtime 0-0 tie with No. 12 Creighton last Saturday (Sept. 29), Gallagher registered a game-high nine saves.  He faced 30 shots in the contest, including nine on goal.

Gallagher came up with arguably the biggest save of the game in the 67th minute (66:20) flying in the air to his right to spear the shot fired by Christian Blandon to maintain the shutout.  

On the season, Gallagher owns an MVC-best 59 saves and holds a 1.83 goals against average.  He currently paces the MVC in saves (59) and saves per game (5.36).

Drake (1-7-3, 0-0-1 MVC) returns to action on Wednesday (Oct. 3) hosting Western Illinois in a 7:00 p.m. tilt at the Cownie Soccer Complex.  The Bulldogs resume conference play on Saturday (Oct. 6) entertaining Central Arkansas at 7:00 p.m.