The Drake men's soccer team kicks off its 29th season this weekend welcoming Houston Baptist and Milwaukee to the Cownie Soccer Complex. The Bulldogs open their campaign battling the Huskies on Friday (Aug. 29) before closing out weekend action against the Panthers on Sunday (Aug. 31). Game times are slated for 8:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m., respectively.
SCOUTING THE HUSKIES
Houston Baptist (0-0), returns eight starters from last year's squad that posted a 9-7-2 ledger. Sophomore Tobenna Uzo, the preseason Western Athletic Conference Offensive Player of the Year, is back this season after leading the Huskies' attack in 2013 registering a team-leading 11 goals. Senior goalkeeper Kevin Suarez saw the majority of minutes a year ago for Houston Baptist recording 36 saves en route to maintaining a 1.55 goals against average.
SCOUTING THE PANTHERS
Milwaukee (0-0), comes into its showdown with Drake on Sunday (Aug. 31) after a 2013 campaign in which the Panthers earned a berth in the NCAA Tournament before falling in the opening round to in-state rival Wisconsin, 1-0. Milwaukee, who opens its season hosting DePaul on Friday (Aug. 29), garnered 0-0 and 2-2 ties, respectively, versus Creighton and Wisconsin Parkside in exhibition play. Senior Laurie Bell returns this fall after pacing the Panthers a year ago with team highs in goals (13), points (30), shots (95), shots on goal (40) and game-winning goals (3). Sophomore goalkeeper Liam Anderson returns in goal for Milwaukee after recording 68 saves and 10 shutouts, while owning a 0.63 goals against average in 2013.
SERIES HISTORY
The Bulldogs are encountering Houston Baptist for the first time in program history when the two sides hit the field on Friday (Aug. 29).
Drake squares off against Milwaukee for the 16th time, with the Panthers owning a 10-3-2 series advantage. The Bulldogs earned a 1-1 double-overtime tie at Milwaukee on Sept. 5, 2013 in the last meeting between the two teams. Drake owns a 2-1-2 mark in its last five games against the Panthers.
THE COACHES
Houston Baptist: Steve Jones is in his ninth campaign directing the Huskies and owns a 59-62-13 (.489) record, while maintaining a 209-195-22 (.516) mark in this his 20th season as a head coach.
Milwaukee: Kris Kelderman is in his third season at the helm of the Milwaukee program, owning a 23-11-4 (.658) ledger. Overall, he is 34-18-5 (.640) in four years as a head coach.
Drake: In his 17th year on the Drake sidelines as head coach is Sean Holmes, who owns a 136-137-35 mark (.498), including 214-163-37 (.562) overall, in his 21st year as a head coach
DRAKE HEAD COACH SEAN HOLMES
Sean Holmes was named head men's soccer coach at Drake in 1998 and this season marks his 17th campaign directing the Bulldogs' fortunes.
During Holmes' 16-year tenure, the Bulldogs have posted a 136-137-35 record, building a legacy of excellence on Drake's campus and in the Missouri Valley Conference. In 21 years as a head coach he has amassed a 214-163-37 overall record.
The 2013 campaign proved to be a series of ebbs and flows for the Bulldogs, who finished the season with an 8-8-4 ledger, including a 3-1-2 second-place effort in the Missouri Valley Conference. Drake rebounded after getting off to a 0-3-1 start to raise its ledger to 8-5-3 following a 2-1 victory in its home finale versus Bradley before closing the campaign with a 0-3-1 record.
Nick Marshall and Alec Bartlett, who were named as first-team All-Missouri Valley Conference men's soccer selections, led seven Drake student-athletes who garnered All-MVC accolades a year ago. Bryan Jantsch, Jarred Arde and Mueng Sunday were tabbed second-team selections. Ben LeMay and Darrin MacLeod along with Sunday were recognized as all-freshman team recipients.
Alec Bartlett was also tabbed a 2013 National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA)/Continental Tire All-Midwest Region second-team selection.
Off the field, Marshall became the third Bulldog to earn first-team 2013 Capital One Academic All-America® Division I Men's Soccer Team accolades, joining Brian Wurst and Matt Kuhn in 2009 and 2011, respectively. He was the second Drake men's soccer student-athlete to collect national honors twice and the first to do so in consecutive years. Additionally, Marshall and Thomas Schermoly garnered first-team All-MVC Men's Soccer Scholar-Athlete honors.
The NSCAA recognized Drake for its academic prowess by naming it as a College Team Academic Award Winner for 2013. The Bulldogs were honored for the ninth time in program history after registering a team grade point average of 3.22 for the 2012-13 academic year.
Holmes came to Drake after serving as the top assistant at conference-rival Evansville from 1995-98. During his tenure at Evansville, the Aces compiled a 47-30-6 record, winning the 1996 MVC championship. The team, which he helped build, garnered an NCAA Tournament berth and a top 20 ranking.
Holmes, 49, was born in Switzerland and grew up in Ottawa, Ontario. An all-Ontario sweeper at Carleton University from 1983-87.
Holmes was head coach at Baker University in Baldwin City, Kan., from 1989-93, compiling a 78-26-2 record, leading the 1991, 1992 and 1993 teams to NAIA District 10 championships. Holmes also served as director of the Olympic Development Program in Kansas for two years.
Holmes holds a USSF 'A' level coaching license and is a member of the Region II staff for the Olympic Development Program.
Holmes and his wife, Dr. Carrie Holmes, reside in Des Moines with their three sons, Matthew, Samuel and Andrew.
LUTHER SLIPS PAST BULLDOGS, 2-1
A successful penalty kick in the 88th minute (87:03) lifted Luther College to a 2-1 triumph past Drake in exhibition action on Aug. 22 at Drake Stadium.
In a contest that featured three, 30-minute periods, the Bulldogs were the aggressors offensively on the evening registering a 17-7 advantage in shots. The Norse, though, proved victorious on the strength of a 6-5 margin in shots on goal.
Luther opened the scoring in the affair connecting on a free kick from outside the top of the box at the 9:36 mark.
The Norse maintained the lead until the 82nd minute (81:02) when freshman Gabe Edel (Greenwood, Ind./Center Grove) worked a stellar give-and-go with junior Eric Williams (West Des Moines, Iowa/Valley) to record a goal and square the contest at one.
Just over six minutes later, freshman goalkeeper Will Skoog (Overland Park, Kan./Shawnee Mission South) was whistled for a red card on a foul in the box resulting in a penalty kick for the Norse.
Redshirt sophomore Darrin MacLeod (Waterloo, Ontario/Resurrection Catholic) pulled in a team-high two saves for the Bulldogs, while Skoog and redshirt junior Jake Hunstiger (White Bear Lake, Minn./White Bear Lake) each recorded a stop for Drake.
DRAKE DROPS 2-1 DECISION TO LORAS
In its opening exhibition contest of the season, Drake suffered a 2-1 setback versus Loras College on Aug. 20 at Drake Stadium.
The Duhawks scored the game's initial tally when Alex Bradley's free kick was found the back of the net at the 18:07 mark.
Loras extended its advantage to 2-0 in the 47th minute (46:03) when Josh Kutzke connected on an unassisted tally.
Redshirt sophomore James Grunert (Muskego, Wis./Muskego) cut the deficit in half for the Bulldogs delivering a goal at the 47:44 mark. Earning the assist on the tally was junior Brandon Welter (Mankato, Minn./Mankato East).
The Duhawks finished the affair outshooting Drake, 10-6.
The Bulldogs were able to get 28 players into action in the contest, including minutes in goal for Darrin MacLeod, Jake Hunstiger and Will Skoog.
Eric Williams paced the Bulldogs with a game-high two shots.
BULLDOGS IN SEASON OPENERS
In their previous 28 season lidlfiters, the Bulldogs own a 13-13-2 ledger (.500), including 9-6-1 under head coach Sean Holmes. Drake will be eyeing its fifth season-opening triumph in the last seven seasons when it battles Houston Baptist on Friday (Aug. 29).
DRAKE MIXING YOUNG AND OLD IN 2014
The Bulldogs enter the 2014 campaign looking to build upon an 8-8-4 mark last season, including a second-place 3-1-2 ledger in the Missouri Valley Conference.
Drake is seeking to integrate 12 newcomers this season onto a roster that boasts 10 returning lettermen from a year ago.
Included among the returnees are Drake's six starters from the close of the 2013 campaign, led by a quartet of All-Missouri Valley Conference performers in redshirt junior Alec Bartlett, (Overland Park, Kan./St. James Academy) redshirt sophomores Darrin MacLeod and Ben LeMay (Hugo, Minn./Saint Thomas Academy) and sophomore Mueng Sunday (Coralville, Iowa/Iowa City West).
Bartlett was named a first-team All-MVC selection, while Sunday was tabbed a second-team honoree. LeMay, MacLeod and Sunday were all recognized as all-freshman team recipients.
Complimenting that quartet is the return of senior Thomas Schermoly (Olathe, Kan./St. Thomas Aquinas) and junior Austin Reutzel (Cedar Rapids, Iowa/Prairie), both starters in 2013.
Drake also will welcome the return of redshirt junior Kyle Whigham (Overland Park, Kan./St. Thomas Aquinas), who missed nearly the entire 2013 campaign due to injury.
BULLDOGS DUO EARNS PRESEASON ALL-MVC ACCOLADES
Drake redshirt junior Alec Bartlett and redshirt sophomore Darrin MacLeod were among 12 players tabbed by a vote of the seven Missouri Valley Conference head men's soccer coaches as All-MVC Preseason first-team selections, the league announced on Aug. 20.
A first-team All-MVC honoree a season ago, Bartlett has started all 39 games of his Drake career, including 20 last season. In 2013, he registered a goal and an assist on 13 shots en route to sparking the Bulldogs to five shutouts.
MacLeod started 15 of the 17 games he played in last fall en route to recording 76 saves, five shutouts and a 1.15 goals against average. He finished second, third and fourth, respectively, in the conference in save percentage (.809), goals against average and saves per game (4.47) en route to being named to the MVC All-Freshman team.
PRESEASON MVC POLL TABS DRAKE FOURTH
Drake was picked to finish fourth in the MVC Coaches Preseason poll with 31 points. Pegged ahead of the Bulldogs were league favorite Missouri State (46 points), followed by Evansville (37 points), Bradley (32 points), Drake, SIU Edwardsville (23 points), Loyola (16 points) and Central Arkansas (9 points).
IN OUR LAST MEETING
Drake 1, Milwaukee 1 (2OT) (Sept. 5, 2013)
MILWAUKEE, Wis. - Drake earned a hard-fought 1-1 double-overtime tie versus Milwaukee in the Bulldogs' opening game at the Panther Invitational.
Drake garnered a result in the affair versus a Panther' squad that came into the game ranked No. 24 by Soccer America.
Milwaukee took a 1-0 lead in the contest when Laurie Bell delivered a ball from Robbie Neumann to the far post to beat goalkeeper Rich Gallagher at the 39:31 mark.
The Panthers took a 1-0 advantage into the intermission on the strength of a 7-5 first-half margin in shots.
Garrett Crall evened the tilt at one for Drake in the 66th minute (65:49) cleaning up a blocked shot in the box to best Panther goalkeeper Liam Anderson. Earning the assist on the goal was Danton Irelan.
Nick Marshall nearly scored at the 95:29 mark of the first overtime session, if not for a save by Anderson.
Drake was unable to manage another shot on goal in overtime and Gallagher stopped Bell in the 110th minute (109:48) with a save on the Panthers' lone shot on goal in extra time.
Milwaukee bettered the Bulldogs in shots, 18-12, although the margin on frame was only 7-5.
Jarred Arde and Eric Williams paced the Drake attack with a team-high three shots apiece.
Gallagher recorded six saves for the Bulldogs.
BULLDOGS HONORED
A trio of Bulldogs were honored when College Sport Madness released its men's soccer MVC preseason team. Darrin MacLeod was tabbed as a first-team honoree, while Alec Bartlett and sophomore Mueng Sunday were chosen as a second-team selections.
BULLDOG TIDBITS
• Goalkeeper Darrin MacLeod finished the 2013 campaign ranked seventh, seventh, seventh and eighth on the Drake single-season record book in goals against average (1.15), saves, (76), shutouts (5) and wins (8).
• Led by goalkeeper Darrin MacLeod, Drake registered five shutouts last season, its highest total since recording eight in 2009.
• The Bulldogs garnered scoring contributions from 15 different players a season ago.
• Redshirt freshman goalkeeper Darrin MacLeod registered shutouts in his first four collegiate starts and allowed 18 goals in 17 games in 2013. He was second in the Missouri Valley Conference in save percentage (.809), third in goals against average (1.15) and fourth in saves (4.47) per game.
• Drake's victory over No. 14 New Mexico a year ago was the first for the Bulldogs over a ranked opponent since defeating No. 13 Ohio State, 1-0 in overtime, in the second round of the 2009 NCAA Tournament.
• Thomas Schermoly is Drake's active career leader in goals (6), points (15) and shots (29), while Ben LeMay paces the squad in assists (4). Schermoly leads active Bulldogs on the roster in games played (60), while Alec Bartlett paces the squad in contests started (39).
• The Bulldogs are 38-13-9 since 2006 in home games, including 25-11-4 since 2009.
NATIONALLY SPEAKING
The Bulldogs finished nationally-ranked in several NCAA statistical categories last season. As a team, Drake was 31st in saves per game (5.15), 71st in total assists (25), 84th in total goals (25), 85th in total points (75) and 87th in assists per game (1.25). Individually, Darrin MacLeod ranked 33rd in save percentage (.809), 49th in total saves (76) and saves per game (4.47) and 84th in goals against average (1.15).
WINS VERSUS LOSSES
In their eight victories during the 2013 campaign, the Bulldogs registered 12.2 shots, 3.9 corner kicks and 5.8 saves, while their opponents recorded 14.2 shots, 5.5 corner kicks and 3.1 saves. In its eight losses, Drake posted 9.6 shots, 3.6 corner kicks and 3.5 saves, while surrendering 15.1 shots, 6.4 corner kicks and 3.1 saves.
ON THIS DATE IN BULLDOG HISTORY
Drake faces its third contest in program history on Aug. 29 when the squad plays Houston Baptist on Friday. The Bulldogs are 1-0-1 on the date after collecting a 1-1 double-overtime tie at Western Illinois in 2011. In 2003, Drake bested Grand View, 3-0. The Bulldogs will be challenged by their fifth game on Aug. 31 when they battle Milwaukee on Sunday. Drake is 2-2 on the date with the Bulldogs holding wins over Loyola (3-1 in 2012) and Tulsa (2-1 in 1991).
UP NEXT
Drake continues its four-game homestand entertaining Green Bay and Illinois at Chicago (UIC) next Friday (Sept. 5) and Sunday (Sept. 7), respectively. Game time versus the Phoenix is set for 7:00 p.m., while the showdown with the Flames kicks off at 4:00 p.m.
