DES MOINES, Iowa – The Drake University women's soccer team will be in action just once this week when they take on North Dakota State at 6 p.m. on Friday at Tiger Field, located at Valley High School (3650 Woodland Avenue, West Des Moines). Please note the difference between Tiger Field and Valley Stadium.
 
The Bulldogs, who are in the midst of a four-game homestand, earned a 1-1 draw against Kansas City in their last match. Olivia Bruce tallied her first goal of the season off an assist from Libby Helverson in the 51^st minute.
 
The Roos equalized in the 58^th minute, and both teams were held scoreless throughout the two overtime periods to result in the draw. Goalkeeper Kelsie Stone notched seven saves in another impressive performance by the junior.

NDSU is led by head coach Mike Regan. Regan served as an assistant coach for the women's soccer team at Drake from 2012 to 2015.

"Our last few games against NDSU have been very tight," Drake head coach Lindsey Horner said. "We look forward to hosting Coach Regan and his squad in what we think will be a competitive, physical matchup. For our momentum and growth we need to demonstrate improvement in the final third, be better in the air, and be more dangerous in our transition to attack."


Scouting NDSU
 
The Bison will enter Friday's match with a 4-1-1 record, having won their last match at home against Chicago State, 2-0. NDSU posted a 9-7 record last season and was picked to finish third in the 2019 Summit League Preseason Poll.
 
Senior forward Elyse Huber leads the charge offensively for the Bison. The Sioux City native leads the team with five goals, including three game-winners, and 10 points. Huber earned the Summit League's Offensive Player of the Week award on Sept. 3 after netting three goals in a two-game span.
 
Senior forward Mariah Haberle flanks Huber on the attack. Haberle was named to the All-Summit League First Team in 2018 after recording seven goals and two assists for the Bison, and was dubbed by the Summit League a Player to Watch for the upcoming season.
 
Haberle has found the back of the net twice in 2019 and has also recorded an assist. She ranks second on the team in points with five.
 
NDSU's defense is one of the stingiest units in college soccer. The Bison have allowed just two goals this season, good for a .322 goals against average that ranks 13^th in the nation.
 
The defense employs a bend-don't-break strategy as it has allowed opponents to unleash a whopping 96 shots through six matches.
 
Goalkeeper Monica Polgar has posted impressive marks in saves (43), save percentage (.956), and shutouts (four) thus far in 2019.