DES MOINES, Iowa – The Drake women's soccer team and the UNI Panthers played to a 1-1 double-overtime draw in Missouri Valley Conference action on Wednesday night (Oct. 21) at Cownie Soccer Complex.

“UNI plays us tight every year and tonight was no different,” said head coach Lindsey Horner. “The game was ugly with the exception of a few highlights including Tawny's (Carroll) ball into Rhian (Pritchard) and her finish. Our players battled and worked hard, but unfortunately that's only part of the equation. For a late October performance, I know our players can make better decisions on the ball and execute under pressure and will do so on Saturday. We created plenty of chances to win the game, but our lack of quality hurt us in the end.” 

Drake (6-8-2, 3-0-2 MVC) fell behind 1-0 as UNI (7-5-5, 1-2-2 MVC) struck first with a goal by Katie Witt in the ninth-minute (9:57) of the first half. Witt took a pass from teammate Marianne Gagne and got past the Bulldog defense. Witt shot a ball from the right corner that Drake junior goalie Brooke Dennis (Wauconda, Ill.) blocked, but the balls backspin carried it into the net for the game's opening goal.

The Bulldogs had the equalizer in the 35^th-minute (35:46) as senior Rhian Pritchard (Prairie Village, Kan.) played a perfect cross from freshman Tawny Carroll (Streamwood, Ill.) for her second goal of the season. The assist is the first in Carroll's career.

Juniors Kayla Armstrong (Cedar Rapids, Iowa) and Rebecca Rodgers (Peotone, Ill.) finished with a game-high four shots. Armstrong had four shots on goal while Rodgers finished with one that hit the crossbar just 45 seconds prior to UNI's goal.

The Bulldogs had looks in the second half and the overtime periods for the game-winner, but had several balls sail high or wide of the goal or saved by UNI goalie Whitney Blunt. Drake had 21 shots, including 12 on goal, with Blunt finishing with 10 saves. Dennis ended with four saves.

Prior to the game, Drake held Senior Night recognition honoring five seniors in Mariah Boncek (Fishers, Ind.), Kylie DeHaven (Olathe, Kan.), Pritchard, Tricia White (Overland Park, Kan.) and Emma Winstead (Iowa City, Iowa) in their final regular season home contests.

Drake travels Springfield, Mo. on Saturday, Oct. 24 to play Missouri State in another key MVC match with many implications on the line for both teams involving the MVC regular season title and the MVC tournament. Kickoff with the Bears is scheduled for 2 p.m. Drake is in first place with 11 points while Missouri State is in second with nine points.

“We are looking forward to our game with Missouri State where the competitive standards will be just as high, where there will be even more on the line for a first round bye and a fight for the championship, and yet another great opportunity for our team to keep our destiny in our own hands, commented Horner on the crucial regular season finale for the Bulldogs.”