EVANSVILLE, Ind. - Junior Thomas Schermoly's (Olathe, Kan./St. Thomas Aquinas) three-goal performance sparked the Drake men's soccer team to a come-from-behind 4-1 victory over Evansville in the Missouri Valley Conference opener for both schools on Saturday (Oct. 5).
The hat trick was the first for a Bulldog since Jesse Baker recorded three goals in a 3-2 triumph past No. 16 Creighton on Oct. 26, 2005.
The four goals for Drake (5-3-2, 1-0 MVC) marked the most in a conference game for the Bulldogs since posting a 4-1 win at Eastern Illinois on Nov. 4, 2009.
Drake improved to 8-9-6 all-time in MVC openers with the triumph, including 6-0-6 in the last 12 conference lidlifters.
“Today was a bit of a statement game in many ways,” Drake head coach Sean Holmes commented. “To go on the road in difficult rainy weather, minus one of our senior captains in Addison (Eck), due to a red card in our last game, and win with such authority, I think sends a message across the MVC and the Midwest that our team is real and very much a different team than the one that started the season.”
“We continue to mature, evolve and grow and every week I think we are a little better team. Today was probably one of the best team victories we have played as a lot of players contributed to the cause.”
Evansville (6-3-1, 0-1 MVC) assumed a 1-0 lead in the affair after Patrick Hodges headed in a corner kick from Faik Hajderovic at the 7:54 mark.
The Purples Aces maintained their advantage until Schermoly evened the affair at one connecting on his first goal of the season in the 26th minute (25:10). Redshirt freshman Ben LeMay (Hugo, Minn./St. Thomas Academy) played the ball into Schermoly in the box, who took the pass and beat Evansville goalkeeper Eric Teppen from six yards out.
The score was tied at halftime, despite the Purple Aces owning an 11-5 advantage in shots in the initial stanza.
The Bulldogs took the lead for good when Schermoly delivered what proved to be the game-winning tally in the 49th minute (48:11). Sophomore Austin Reutzel (Cedar Rapids, Iowa/Prairie) played a long ball over the defense that Schermoly converted into a 2-1 Drake advantage.
The Bulldogs extended their margin to 3-1 after sophomore Danton Irelan (Ottumwa, Iowa/Ottumwa) recorded his team-leading fourth goal of the year at the 57:46 mark. Earning the assist on the tally was senior Bryan Jantsch (Mission Hills, Kan./Rockhurst).
Schermoly capped off his scoring explosion with his third goal of the afternoon in the 80th minute (79:16). Sophomore Brandon Welter (Mankato, Minn./Mankato East) was credited with the assist on the score.
“Thomas' (Schermoly) thrilling hat trick after scoring three goals in his entire Drake career, is a real revelation,” said Holmes. “His dedication and hard work have paid off. I believe his first goal was scored with his right foot, his second was struck with his left foot and the last goal was a header, so in every sense he was the complete striker.”
Evansville posted a 21-9 advantage in shots in the game, including 9-5 on goal. Drake made the most of its opportunities as four of the Bulldogs' five shots on goal found the back of the net.
“Quite honestly Evansville is one of our bigger rivals in the MVC and despite what we have done in our last five games, no one wants to start out conference play at 0-1,” Holmes explained. “I think Evansville turning in great results over the past few weeks with wins over nationally-ranked Saint Louis (No. 6) and Butler (No. 16) demonstrated they are a big-time opponent.”
Schermoly led the Drake attack with a team-high three shots. A pair of four-shot performances from Jared Robinson and Hodges directed the Purple Aces.
Redshirt freshman goalkeeper Darrin MacLeod (Waterloo, Ontario/Resurrection Catholic) made a game-high six saves for the Bulldogs, despite surrendering his first goal in six games this season. Drake benefitted from a pair of team saves that thwarted Evansville scoring opportunities. Teppen finished with one save for Evansville.
“Darrin (MacLeod) again was terrific in goal making a bunch of saves,” stated Holmes. “For him to play in six games and only surrender one goal is a testament to his ability and the cohesion of the players on our backline.”
Holmes also lauded the play in the victory of several Bulldogs.
“Mueng (Sunday) was again solid in the midfield, Bryan (Jantsch) continued to torment people on the flank and our back four was very good. Logan (North) turned in a very sound game and Alec (Bartlett) again was solid.”
Drake returns to action on Tuesday (Oct. 8) with a 7:00 p.m. tilt at Wisconsin.
“We now have a tight turnaround for Wisconsin on Tuesday (Oct. 7) night,” Holmes commented. “We will spend the next 72 hours working on recuperating and regenerating and be ready to play a strong Big ten foe on the road.”
