DES MOINES, Iowa - On the
strength of nine saves from redshirt junior goalkeeper Rich Gallagher (Lake Bluff, Ill./Lake Forest Academy), the Drake
men's soccer team registered a 0-0 double-overtime tie with No. 12 Creighton
(5-3-2, 0-0-1 MVC) in the Missouri Valley Conference opener for both schools on
Saturday (Sept. 29) at the Cownie Soccer Complex.
The Bulldogs (1-7-3, 0-0-1 MVC) improved to 5-4-6 in conference
lidlifters under head coach Sean Holmes
with the result, including 5-0-6 in the last 11 league openers.
Drake earned its first result over a ranked opponent since collecting a 1-1
double-overtime decision versus No. 12 UC Irvine on Oct. 2, 2010 at the Cownie
Soccer Complex.
The Bluejays got off to fast start in the affair recording the game's
first six shots before freshman Jon Choda (Waukee, Iowa/Waukee), in his first career start, notched Drake's
first shot at the 22:41 mark.
Creighton went on to hold a 11-5 margin in shots in the initial 45
minutes of play.
The Bulldogs picked up their offensive pace in the second half
registering eight shots, but were bettered 13-8 by the Bluejays.
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.
Creighton outshot Drake in overtime, 4-2, en route to owning a 30-15
advantage in the affair, including 9-1 on goal.
Garnering the Bulldogs' shot attempts in double-overtime were freshman Eric Williams (West Des Moines,
Iowa/Valley) and redshirt sophomore Jarred Arde (Gulfport, Miss./Gulfport).
Jose Gomez led all players with a game-high six shots, while freshman Alex Troester (Iowa City, Iowa/Iowa
City West) paced the Drake attack with a three-shot performance.
Gallagher pulled in nine saves for the Bulldogs, while Alex Bolowich
recorded one stop for the Bluejays.
Drake continues its three-game homestand on Wednesday (Oct. 3) stepping
out of conference to battle Western Illinois in a 7:00 p.m. tilt at the Cownie
Soccer Complex.
