Box Score KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Sophomore Alyssa Brand (Skokie, Ill.) scored in the 86^th minute to rally the Drake University women's soccer team past the UMKC Kangaroos, 2-1, Wednesday, Sept. 21 night at Durwood Stadium on the campus of UMKC.
 
Brand delivered for Drake (8-1-1) in the 86^th minute (86:25) with her third game winning goal of the season. Brand played a cross from freshman Annie Schmitz (St. Louis, Mo.) and headed the ball into the net between the legs of UMKC (2-6-2) goalie, Anna Lillig. Brand has a team-leading four goals this season.
 
"Tonight was our final preparation prior to our conference season," said head coach Lindsey Horner. "I'm pleased with how we rebounded from our last game and that we continue to have different players contribute. As a team we are still evolving and while tonight wasn't always pretty we got better in the second half and started to attack the box. We earned some free kicks and corner kicks and started to put their back line under pressure. We are looking forward to opening our league season at home on Sunday."
 
In the 80^th minute (80:39), junior Kasey Hurt (Ankeny, Iowa) scored the equalizer off a free kick as the left-footer was able to bend her shot in from the right side into the near side of the net. It is the first goal of the season for Hurt, who leads the Bulldogs in assists with four.
 
UMKC scored in the 65^th minute (65:30) as Abby Small played a cross and put in the right side of the net past Drake goalkeeper Brooke Dennis (Wauconda, Ill.).
 
Junior Haley Morris (Clive, Iowa) played in the net in the first half for the Bulldogs and finished with five saves, including a trio of great saves on early shots by the Kangaroos. Dennis played the second half and finished with two saves.
 
The midweek non-conference match allowed Horner to rest several starters and regulars in anticipation of MVC play starting Sunday for the Bulldogs, while also allowing several players to play more minutes.
 
Drake opens MVC play at the Cownie Soccer Complex on Sept. 21 against Evansville with first kick scheduled for 1 p.m.