DES MOINES, Iowa – After playing its first three regular season matches of the 2016 season on the road, the Drake University women's soccer team returns to the Cownie Soccer Complex for its home opener on Friday, Sept. 2. Drake is set to host South Dakota at 7 p.m.
The Bulldogs enter Friday with a 2-0-1 record with wins over North Dakota State and UIC and a 0-0 draw with defending Big Ten champions, Wisconsin, this past Sunday in Madison, Wis.
South Dakota travels to Des Moines with a 1-2-1 record. Last season, Drake defeated the Coyotes, 6-2, in Vermillion, S.D.
Drake's defense has been stellar this season as the Bulldogs have yet to allow a goal. Drake limited its first two opponents, North Dakota State and UIC, to just 16 total shots and just four on goal. The Bulldogs' defense stepped up at Wisconsin as the Badgers tallied 24 shots, including six on goal, but failed to find the net in a 0-0 draw. The strong start to the season has the Bulldogs ranked 10
th in the initial National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) Great Lakes regional week-to-week poll of qualified teams.
Seniors
Kayla Armstrong (Cedar Rapids, Iowa) and
Alex Freeman (Duluth, Minn.) lead the squad with two goals each. Freeman scored the match's lone goal in the season opener at NDSU and Armstrong recorded her first career two-goal performance in the win at UIC. Drake's goalkeepers senior
Brooke Dennis (Wauconda, Ill.) and junior
Haley Morris (Clive, Iowa) have played nearly the same minutes this season. Senior defender
Sarah G. Nicholson (Overland Park, Kan.) and Morris were recognized Tuesday by the Missouri Valley Conference as the MVC Defender and Goalie of the Week, respectively, for their performances against UIC and Wisconsin.
Following Friday's home opener, Drake has a quick turnaround as Milwaukee visits Cownie Sunday for a 1 p.m. match.
