The Drake women's soccer team enters the second week of the 2015 campaign with two games on the schedule for the week. First the Bulldogs travel to Vermillion, S.D., where they take on the South Dakota Coyotes on Thursday at 4 p.m. Drake closes the week with a home contest against the South Dakota Jackrabbits on Sunday at 1 p.m. Sunday's game will be played at Drake Stadium.
Drake owns a 1-1 record as the Bulldogs dropped a hard-fought season opener to UMKC, 1-0, on Aug. 21 before bouncing back with a 2-1 comeback win over Pacific on Aug. 23.
In the opener, UMKC scored its goal 11 minutes into the contest, and had to hold off a determined Drake squad whose rally attempt fell just short. Junior Rebecca Rodgers (Peotone, Ill.), who led Drake in goals and assists as a junior, had the best opportunity at tying the game, blasting a shot that hit the crossbar before being cleared by the Kangaroos' defense.
Pacific scored first, but the Bulldogs battled back to tie the game just minutes before halftime. Drake sophomore Kasey Hurt (Ankeny, Iowa) drilled a shot that the Tigers goalkeeper blocked but was unable to gain control of the ball and fellow sophomore Hannah Wilder (Wheatfield, Ill.) gathered it and punched in the equalizer with just 3:01 to half in the period. Wilder's goal is the first of her career. The two teams went scoreless in the second period to force overtime. In the overtime, Drake freshman Alyssa Brand (Skokie, Ill.) scored her first career goal just 1:42 in to give the Bulldogs their first win of 2015.
Several younger players have gained valuable experience in the first two games as 10 first or second year players, including five freshmen, have earned playing time so far this season. The Bulldogs were dealt a tough break in the win over Pacific as senior forward Alex Freeman (Duluth, Minn.) suffered a season-ending injury. However, Drake will receive a big boost this week as junior defender Sarah Grace Nicholson (Overland Park, Kan.) is expected back after missing the first two games with an injury. Nicholson played in all 20 games for the Bulldogs as a sophomore.
Following Sunday's home game Drake hits the road for its next four games starting Sept. 4 at Northern Colorado. The Bulldogs return to Cownie Soccer Complex on Sept. 20 for an in-state clash with the Iowa State Cyclones at 1 p.m.
