The Drake men's soccer team is hoping to improve from the spring season results after facing the challenges that came with it. With the season postponed to an abbreviated spring schedule due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Bulldogs went 5-3-1 and finished fourth in the Missouri Valley Conference.  

"The biggest motivator for the team this season is the opportunity to win a conference championship," said defender TC Anderson. "There aren't many times in life that you have a chance to become a champion, and with a team as strong as the one we've got – we know that we have a real chance of winning the MVC, and we aren't taking it for granted."  

After earning the No. 2 seed going into the four-team MVC tournament, the Bulldogs could not get past Loyola in the semifinals, losing 4-1. The last time Drake lost in the tournament's semifinals was in 2008 when it played Missouri State.  

"Although we know the fall season will still present challenges, we are thankful that we can get a full fall season," said head coach Gareth Smith. "The key to success is to be 'adaptable' and to find a solution, on and off the field, when presented with a problem. During preseason the focus has been on integrating our new players into our team identity and style of play with a specific focus on working on getting them up to speed on their roles and responsibilities."  

At the close of the 2020-2021 season, the Bulldogs lost five players to graduation, including MLS draft pick Leroy Enzugusi and starting defender Lucas Bartlett. During the offseason, Drake added seven freshmen and five transfers to their roster.  

"I think all of the new guys, freshmen and transfers, are all transitioning really well," Anderson said. "Everyone is eager to play, works hard every day, and wants to earn a spot to get playing time throughout the season. That type of healthy competition in training is pushing everyone to give their best effort every day and is bringing out the best in all of us."  

Anderson, a senior who transferred to Drake in the fall of 2020, started six games and appeared in eight for Drake. He registered one goal and two points against Evansville.  
"We are very excited about our incoming class and to be able to welcome them to a full season experience," Smith said. "We can see in the first week of preseason that our new guys will add quality and depth in all positions within our squad."  

Senior midfielder Istvan Wilhelms led the Bulldogs with three goals and eight points last season. In April, he earned MVC Offensive Player of the Week for his performance in Drake's 4-0 win over Evansville.   

"As a team, our expectations and goals are to be the MVC regular-season champions, then win the MVC tournament and showcase ourselves in the NCAA tournament," Wilhelms said. "I think a challenge that we will face as a team is staying healthy physically and mentally since we have all been impacted by the pandemic this past year."  
Before starting conference play on Sept. 18, Drake takes on a six-game non-conference schedule that includes home matches at Cownie Soccer Stadium against Western Illinois and Omaha.  

The Bulldogs are also scheduled to play a pair of exhibition matches against Briar Cliff (Aug. 19) and Truman State (Aug. 21).