URBANDALE, Iowa – The Drake University women's soccer team celebrated Senior Night with a 3-0 victory over Valparaiso on Saturday at Urbandale High School. The Bulldogs recorded season-bests in goals (three), assists (five), and points (11) en route to their fourth win in a row.
 
Seven seniors – Reilly Bertram, Ali Burke, Shelley Lyjak, Vanessa Kavan, Mattie Perry, Cassie Rohan, and Annie Schmitz – were honored before the game. The group has won 41 games over the last four years and helped Drake to the 2017 MVC regular season title.
 
Hannah Bormann (18'), Vanessa Kavan (39'), and Olivia Bruce (77') each scored to lift Drake to the result, while Kelsie Stone earned her fourth-straight shutout. She has five clean sheets on the year, second-most in the Missouri Valley Conference.
 
"We are really pleased to earn the shutout win today," said Drake head coach Lindsey Horner. "Kelsie made one fantastic save and otherwise our backs protected her. Delaney Goertzen was very good at ending any transitional moments. We have to feel good about our goals, but more specifically how we created those chances."
 
Rohan and Schmitz assisted on Bormann's opening goal, when Bormann put heavy top-spin on a header that rose high over the goalie before sinking into the back of the net. It was Bormann's second goal of the year.
 
Redshirt senior Vanessa Kavan doubled Drake's lead in the 39^th minute when she banged home a left-footed strike to the far post. Kavan collected a pass out wide from Olivia Bruce, dribbled into the box, and sent in her second goal of the season.
 
In the 77^th minute, Olivia Bruce refused to be denied, giving multiple efforts before powering home her team-best third goal of the year. Erika Townley played a long ball ahead to Bormann, who sent a pinpoint cross into the box to Bruce.
 
Bruce tangled with two defenders for control, then drove a shot through the goalie's arms for the score.
 
By each recording a goal and an assist, Bormann and Bruce recorded three points on the night, tying Goertzen for the most in a game by a Bulldog this season.
 
Stone made one save on the night, and it was one for the highlight reel. Valparaiso earned a free kick from just outside the 18-yard box, and the Crusaders' Adi Johnson hooked in a laser shot. Stone soared into the air, stretching vertically to get a mitt to the ball and direct it out of harm's way.
 
Drake's defense has been in strong form recently. The Bulldogs limited Valpo to six shots, which ties their stingiest performance of the season. Drake also held Indiana State to six shots in their previous match.
 
Valparaiso's one shot on goal is the fewest by a Drake opponent this season.
 
With four-consecutive wins and four-consecutive clean sheets, the Bulldogs are peaking at the right time. They travel to Illinois State on Wednesday, Oct. 31 to close the regular season in a match with significant MVC Tournament implications.
 
The winner of the matchup will clinch one of two first-round byes in the conference tournament. The Bulldogs will enter the match confidently after Saturday's convincing win over Valpo.
 
"The team is proud to get this result on Senior Night, get three very important MVC points, and set ourselves up for a significant regular season finale at Illinois State," said Horner.