DES MOINES, Iowa – Newcomers Leroy Enzugusi (Marion, Iowa) and Jake Taylor (Whitefish Bay, Wis.) each scored a goal for the Drake University men's soccer team in a 2-1 win over Iowa Western on Saturday, Aug. 12 evening at Cownie Soccer Complex in Drake's first exhibition contest of the preseason.
 
"Saturday's game was a great way to kick off the fall preseason," said head coach Gareth Smith. "It was very pleasing to provide all of the squad with an opportunity to play as it gave the staff the chance to see our new players in a competitive setting. We are happy for Leroy and Jake getting on the score sheet in their debut as Bulldogs. We have a very young, but exciting, team this year so it was good for them to kick off the season with a solid performance and result."
 
Enzuguzi, a freshman who was a standout at Linn-Mar High School, was assisted on his goal by junior Nic Jaimes (Olathe, Kan.). Taylor, a graduate transfer from Marquette University, was assisted by freshman Erik Sigman (Cincinnati, Ohio).
 
Drake now turns its attention to its second exhibition match, another home contest, as traditional power, Notre Dame, visits Cownie Wednesday night at 7 p.m. The Fighting Irish blanked Omaha, 2-0, in their first exhibition on Sunday in Omaha, Neb. Following Wednesday's action, the Bulldogs will host their final exhibition game on Sunday against Northern Illinois at 3 p.m. The Huskies will play their first exhibition Tuesday afternoon at Loyola.
 
Drake has a 30-man roster with 18 returners and 12 newcomers vying to earn playing time. This season, Drake who lost a very talented and decorated senior class from 2016, will lean on a group of four seniors, a pair of redshirt juniors and a duo of juniors. That talented group will help lead 10 returning underclassmen and 12 newcomers on the roster. Gabe Edel (Greenwood, Ind.), Steven Enna (Overland Park, Kan.), Mason Leonard (Overland Park, Kan.) and Aleksi Touminen (Helsinki, Finland) are set for their final seasons while Paul Ciszeweski (Germantown, Wis.) and Ben Troester (Iowa City, Iowa) are redshirt juniors and Jaimes and Ryan Merideth (East Moline, Ill.) are juniors. All eight have played significant minutes in their respective careers. Enna is Drake's top returning goal scorer with five last season.
 
Drake begins the regular season at Xavier on Aug. 27.