DES MOINES, Iowa – The Drake University women's soccer team welcomes South Dakota (3-2-2) Thursday, Sept. 13 night at 6 p.m. at the Cownie Soccer Complex. Drake (2-5-0) then hosts Western Illinois (1-4-1) Sunday at 1 p.m. Both home matches will be broadcast on ESPN+.
 
Marquette edged the Bulldogs, 2-1, in their home opener Sept. 7. The Golden Eagles scored late after the Bulldogs had tied the game shortly out of halftime. Redshirt junior Vanessa Kavan (Lincoln, Neb.), who missed nearly all of the 2017 season due to injury, buried a penalty kick for her second career goal and first since the 2015 season.
 
Kavan and her teammates will look to break out more scoring when they take on the Coyotes and Leathernecks in two of their final three non-conference matches. The team has scored two goals in a game this season just once and five total. Kavan has taken a team-high three shots on goal in the team's past three matches. Sophomore Olivia Bruce (Lakeville, Minn.) has a team-best two goals.
 
South Dakota is 3-1-2 since it dropped it season opener against Wyoming. Tiannah Moore has scored a team-leading four goals. Drake owns a 7-1-0 advantage all-time over the Coyotes.
 
Western Illinois travels to Chicago State Friday before its trip to Des Moines. Last weekend, the Leathernecks were forced to move their home matches against Milwaukee and Ball State to Bettendorf, Iowa, due to heavy rains in the Macomb, Ill. area. The Bulldogs lead the all-time series against the Leathernecks, 7-4-1, including a 2-1 win in double overtime last season in Macomb.
 
Following Sunday's game, Drake heads to Omaha Sept. 19 for its final non-conference match of 2018. First kick with the Mavericks is scheduled for 6 p.m.