DES MOINES, Iowa – The Drake University women's soccer team battled the South Dakota State Jackrabbits in a hard-fought match that ended in a 2-2 draw on Sunday afternoon at the Cownie Soccer Complex.
"Our result today was disappointing, given we had the lead twice and let SDSU back in with goals they didn't have to work hard for," said head coach
Lindsey Horner. "We have to be harder to score on. Additionally, given the amount of possession we had, we didn't translate this into dangerous moments in the final third."
Drake (2-1-1) took the early lead in the 15
th minute (15:32) with a goal scored by senior
Brooke Salisbury (Kearney, Mo.). Salisbury's first goal of the year came off a corner kick from senior
Kasey Hurt (Ankeny, Iowa) who sent a high ball to Salisbury who was left unmarked and she able to head the ball in the near post.
South Dakota State (2-4-2) struck early in the second half (50:30) to even the score after Drake goalie
Haley Morris (Clive, Iowa) initially saved the shot by Nicole Hatcher but her momentum carried her back into the goal for the tying score.
The Bulldogs answered quickly reclaiming the lead in the 53
rd minute (53:33) with a goal from redshirt senior
Rebecca Rodgers (Peotone, Ill.) who beat the Jackrabbits defense after taking a deep pass from freshman
Hannah Bormann (Amana, Iowa). SDSU tied the game time with a goal by Annie Williams on a long free kick that just escaped the reach of Morris. Rodgers with 29 career goals is now just three scores away from tying the all-time program record held by Andrea Schmitz (2002-05).
Drake nearly went back ahead in the 81
st minute when the team had four shot attempts on goal off a corner kick, but the SDSU goalie, Maggie Smither made four different saves, including the final one on an attempt by senior
Rachel Wanninger (Johnston, Iowa).
Each team had two shot attempts in the first overtime period and neither was able to get off a shot in the second overtime period.
Morris tallied eight saves while junior
Alyssa Brand (Skokie, Ill.) nabbed four shots on goal. Salisbury added three shots on goal.
"We were pleased with our fight in overtime but we are still waiting to see our squad put games like this away when we have the run of play," Horner said. "As we gear up for a road game against Creighton we'll look to sharpen up defensively."
Drake will play at former MVC rival Creighton on Wednesday night with first kick at 7 p.m.
