SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – The Drake women's soccer team clinched the 2015 Missouri Valley Conference regular season title with its 2-0 win at Missouri State on Saturday afternoon. Junior midfielder Rebecca Rodgers (Peotone, Ill.) scored a pair of goals for Drake as the Bulldogs won their first MVC regular season title since the 2006 season.

“I'm so impressed with our players and staff,” said head coach Lindsey Horner. “Our squad wasn't phased by being on the road or by coming off of a frustrating performance on Wednesday. Everyone filled their role today and did so at a high level. Our midfield got better as the game went on and our backs dealt with their attack quite well even when they threw numbers forward at the end.”

With the victory Drake improved to 4-0-2 in MVC play and 7-8-2 overall with the shutout of Missouri State who dropped to 3-2-0 in MVC action and 9-5-1 overall with the loss. The title secures a bye for the Bulldogs to the semifinals of the MVC Tournament held on Nov. 6 in Evansville, Ind. The winner of the tournament earns an automatic berth to the NCAA Tournament.

Rodgers scored her first goal at the 35-minute mark (35:12) in the first half with a header off a corner kick by junior midfielder Kayla Armstrong (Cedar Rapids, Iowa). Armstrong has a team-high four assists.

Drake and Missouri State finished with five shots and four shots, respectively in the first half. Bulldog junior goalie Brooke Dennis (Wauconda, Ill.) tallied two saves in the half.

Later in the second period, Rodgers secured her second multiple-goal game of the season at the 57-minute mark (57:04). Drake capitalized on a turnover by Missouri State as sophomore defender Ali Smith (Lenexa, Kan.) stole the ball and passed it to Rodgers who got behind the Bears' defense as she chipped a shot over the head of Missouri State goalie Jessica Perry to put the Bulldogs up 2-0.

“Kayla and Becca (Rodgers) didn't have loads of opportunities today, but they were clearly impact players for us,” Horner said. “Becca is a game changer as we've won every league game she's scored in.”

Smith earned her second assist of the season on the goal as Rodgers has a conference-leading nine goals. Rodgers has scored 26 career goals, which ranks tied for second in program history with former standout Sara Foote (2004-07). Andrea Schmitz (2002-5) has the top mark with 32 career goals.

Dennis finished with six key saves in the second half and eight in the contest as the Drake defense secured its second shutout of the year.

Drake will wait to find out its opponent for the MVC Tournament as quarterfinal games will be played at campus sites on Nov. 1.

“We had a trying start to our season, but our players gained knowledge and experience that helped us go undefeated in the league and for that I give them a lot of credit,” Horner said of her team. “It could have been easy to lose belief when we fell short but the chemistry and make up of our team got stronger.  We look forward to getting some rest and then preparing for the MVC Tournament.”