SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – Despite tremendous effort on the road, Drake men's soccer could not earn a win at league-leader and 16th-ranked Missouri State. The Bulldogs suffered just their second loss in MVC play as Missouri State clinched at least a share of the Valley regular season crown.
 
Both teams prodded through the first quarter of the match until the Bulldogs made the first move. In the 32nd minute, Sam Thornton sent the ball to the 18-yard box where it was deflected off the leg of a Bear defender. AJ Franklin then corralled the ball and sent it past the keeper for the game's first goal and his seventh of the year.
 
Drake maintained their 1-0 advantage through the first half.
 
After the break, in the 52nd minute, Javier Martin Gil of Missouri State collected a rebound off a Jonathan Burke save in the six-yard box and delivered the game's equalizer.
 
Knotted at 1-1, Missouri State threatened again. Jonathan Burke was called for a foul while attempting to gain possession of the ball. On the penalty kick, Pascal Corvino's attempt was denied on a remarkable diving save by Burke.
 
Neither team could come through during the remainder of the match as the 1-1 score held.
 
Missouri State outshot Drake 19-9 overall with a 9-4 advantage in shots on goal. Thornton and Franklin combined for six of the Bulldogs' attempts. In goal, Burke made eight saves, his second-best effort of the year.

"Missouri State is a well-oiled machine that rarely drops points at home," Drake head coach Pat Flinn stated. "We came into the season without many believers outside of our locker room and are going into the last MVC match sitting in second place. We love playing together and tonight's effort showed that. Wednesday will be the last time this group get to compete at home during the regular season together and we will be ready for UIC."

Drake will conclude their 2022 regular season schedule on Wednesday, Nov. 2 with a 6 p.m. home match against UIC.
 
 
Notes

• Missouri State outshot Drake, 19-8.
• Jonathan Burke's eight saves are the second most for him this season.
• AJ Franklin scored his team-leading seventh goal of the season. 
• Sam Thornton contributed his third assist of the season. 
• The 1-1 draw on Friday night snaps a seven-match losing streak to the Bears dating back to Oct. 27, 2018, when the Bulldogs played Missouri State to a 0-0 draw in Des Moines. 
• Missouri State has not lost in MVC play since April 8, 2021.
• Drake forced its first draw of the conference season. 
• Missouri State leads the all-time series, 17-8-8