DES MOINES, Iowa – Evansville edged the Drake University women's soccer team, 1-0, Sunday, Sept. 25 afternoon at the Cownie Soccer Complex in the Missouri Valley Conference opener for the teams.
 
Evansville (2-9-1, 1-0 MV) scored in the 65^th minute after a Drake (8-2-1, 0-1 MVC) defensive mistake let Colleen Dierkes take a shot just inside the box that went over the head of junior goalkeeper Haley Morris (Clive, Iowa) for the game's only goal.
 
The Bulldogs recorded 13 shots, including seven on goal to just five by the Purple Aces.
 
Junior Hannah Wilder (Wheatfield, Ind.) had a header attempt hit the crossbar midway through the first half, and later in the second half had a shot hit the post. She also had a goal called off by the referee after he ruled she made contact with Evansville's goalie, Whitney Briggs, while Briggs had possession of the ball. Wilder knocked the ball out of Briggs' hand and into the net.
 
Sophomore Alyssa Brand (Skokie, Ill.) and freshman Annie Schmitz (St. Louis, Mo.) took shots on goal early in the second half. After Wilder's attempt hit the post, Schmitz fired the rebound wide of the goal. Two minutes later, Brand fired a rocket that an Evansville defender blocked for a team save.
 
After following behind 1-0, Drake mounted a furious attempt for the equalizer. Wilder had her third and final shot saved by Briggs and senior Kayla Armstrong (Cedar Rapids, Iowa) fired a shot that went high of the net as the Bulldogs lost their first MVC regular season game since the 2014 season.
 
Drake continues MVC action Sept. 30 at Indiana State with first kick scheduled for 6 p.m. The road contest will be shown online via The Valley On ESPN3.