LEXINGTON, Ky. – Redshirt junior James Grunert (Muskego, Wis.) scored the game winning goal in the 74^th minute for the Drake men's soccer team as the Bulldogs won 2-1 over the Kentucky Wildcats in the first round of the 2015 NCAA Division I Men's Soccer Championship Thursday night at the Bell Soccer Complex.


 "Today was a very difficult game against an excellent outfit in Kentucky. It's been a difficult two weeks coming off the MVC Tournament and then the quick turnaround to play this evening, but we are excited about the result and probably more excited about the performance tonight so very positive overall," said Drake head coach Gareth Smith of his program's first win in the NCAA Championship since 2009.

The win over Kentucky sends Drake (13-4-3) to the second round of the Championship, where it will face a familiar foe and longtime rival in the Creighton Bluejays on Sunday, Nov. 22 at 1 p.m. at Morrison Stadium in Omaha, Neb. The Bluejays, former members of the Missouri Valley Conference, earned a first round bye in the championship. Creighton rallied to beat Drake, 2-1, back on Oct. 6 in Omaha.

"It means everything to us to be able to advance to the next round," said senior Alec Bartlett (Overland Park, Kan.). "Our team has been very resilient and battled all year. We have been able to wait on the opportunities and when they present themselves we have been able to capitalize."

Grunert's goal came off a beautiful cross by sophomoreMason Leonard (Overland Park, Kan.) from the edge of the 18-yard box as Grunert was able to head it in far post. The goal is the third of the season for Grunert, and the first assist of the season for Leonard.
"We knew Kentucky was going to be really tough especially after they tied it," said Grunert. "We stayed patient and didn't get down on each other and helped each other out. I was lucky enough to be in position and Mason sent a perfect pass right into the box and we just stayed with it."

Senior Alec Bartlett (Overland Park, Kan.) scored the first goal of the contest in the 19^th-minute (18:14). Junior James Wypych (Wellington, New Zealand) sent a corner kick to the left edge of the box that hit Bartlett in the chest and was blocked by Kentucky goalie Callum Irving but Bartlett finished it for his second goal of the season.
Kentucky (12-5-2) answered with the equalizer just over a minute (19:39) later on its own corner kick as Kevin Barajas headed in ball to the far post by a diving Darrin MacLeod(Waterloo, Ontario). It was the first goal allowed by MacLeod and the Bulldogs defense since the regular season finale versus Bradley on Nov. 7. MacLeod finished with three saves in the game.

Drake was the more aggressive team in the opening half as the Bulldogs had 11 shots, including six on goal to just four and two for Kentucky. Drake ended the match with 15 shots led by Bartlett, sophomore Gabe Edel (Greenwood, Ind.) and Grunert each finished with three shots each.

The winner of Sunday's match will advance to play the winner of North Carolina and Coastal Carolina on Nov. 28 or 29.