DES MOINES, Iowa – The Drake University women's soccer team fell to Saint Louis University, 3-0 in Sunday's (Aug. 21) home opener. Drake is now 1-1 on the season while the Billikens are 2-0 and lead the all-time series, 4-1. 
 
The Billikens controlled most of the possession in the first half and forced the Bulldogs to be on the defensive. Drake found themselves down in the sixth minute as Saint Louis' Emily Groark fired an unstoppable shot from 28 yards out into the top right corner of the net for the game's first goal.
 
"We struggled to keep the ball in the first half and that put so much pressure on our back line and defensive midfielders," head coach Lindsey Horner said. 
 
The defense tightened up with help from senior goalkeeper Vianey Lopez, who finished the first half with five total saves. In the 20th minute, Lopez and the Bulldog defense came up with two momentum freezing stops. 
 
Saint Louis increased its lead to 2-0 in the 31st minute after a header into the back of the net  by Caroline Kelly. Despite the deficit, Drake's defense continued to show glimpses of its ability to make offenses uncomfortable. In the 40th minute, the Bulldogs caught a sigh of relief as two Billiken shots bounced just off the goal post. 
 
The Bulldogs attempted to cut down the lead before halftime with a shot from senior midfielder Rachael Panther and had one shot on goal from sophomore midfielder Haley Horman. Drake trailed at halftime, 2-0. 
 
SLU wasted little time getting back on the scoreboard to start the second half as Hannah Larson received a pass from Lynsey Heckle and took it into the six-yard box. From just right of the goal, Larson punched it into the top left corner of the net in the 48th minute for a 3-0 Billiken advantage.
 
"There's a lot to learn from this experience," Horner said. "We need to be competing at this level every day and tidy up the technical aspects of the game where we let ourselves down."
 
Drake sets its eyes on St. Thomas for a road match in St. Paul, Minnesota on Thursday, Aug. 25 at 11 a.m.
 
NOTES

• Sunday was the Drake women's soccer annual Kick Cancer match bringing awareness to all forms of cancer. The Bulldogs wore orange kits in support of kidney cancer awareness. 
• Lopez's  seven total saves more than doubled her saves from the season opener. She has saved 10 shots through two games.
• Senior midfielder Delaney Goertzen exited the game due to injury in the first half. 
• Drake is 2-4 in home opening games since 2016, but have won four of their last six games when coming back from a home opening loss, not including ties during that span.