KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The Drake University men's soccer team opened the 2022 season and the Pat Flinn era with a 1-0 road victory over Kansas City at Durwood Soccer Stadium on Thursday, Aug. 25. An early goal by AJ Franklin proved to be enough as the Bulldog defense earned a clean sheet in the season opener.
 
"Every road win in college soccer is worth celebrating," head coach Pat Flinn said. "Kansas City is an experienced team with a clear identity; they will have success this fall. I couldn't be prouder of our team's collective effort. It was a great team result. We will enjoy the bus ride and then begin focusing on our Monday match at Western Illinois."
 
Damian Segura registered the first shot on goal of the evening when he sent the ball to the top right corner of the net, but it was snagged by Kansas City's Colton Clark, the reigning Summit League goalkeeper of the year.
 
Only a couple of minutes later, Bradan Allen moved from the left sideline to the six-yard box where he placed the ball in front of the net for Franklin. The Marquette transfer knocked the ball into the back of the net for the first Bulldog goal of the 2022 season.
 
The Roos tried to answer in the 21^st minute as Kotaro Hirokawa dragged a shot towards the bottom right corner of the net, but the Drake keeper Jonathan Burke was there for the save. Declan Watters attempted to double the Bulldog advantage, but his shot hit the crossbar in the 40^th minute. Drake led 1-0 at the halftime break.
 
Kansas City opened the second half with aggressive play. The Roos peppered Burke with three shots between the 49^th and 50^th minute, the last of which was collected by Burke. From that point on, the visitors from Des Moines maintained control of possession including another dangerous shot from Franklin, ultimately saved by Clark.
 
Burke recorded four saves to secure the shutout while Kansas City outshot the Bulldogs by an 11-9 margin.
 
Drake men's soccer turns its focus to Western Illinois for a 5 p.m. kickoff against the Leathernecks in Macomb, Ill., on Monday, Aug. 29.
 
NOTES

• The win was Pat Flinn's first victory as the head coach of Drake men's soccer. His overall head coaching record (including the previous two seasons at the University of Chicago) is 29-8-6.
• The goal in the 16^th minute by Franklin was his first as a Drake Bulldog after transferring from Marquette, where he scored a goal in his last game as a Golden Eagle on Oct. 30, 2021 against Georgetown.
• The shutout is the 12^th clean sheet in Jonathan Burke's career and his first as a Drake Bulldog after transferring from Eastern Illinois.
• Drake men's soccer has won 11 consecutive matches against Kansas City dating back to Sept. 15, 2010.
• Drake men's soccer leads the all-time series with Kansas City, 17-5-2.
• The victory marks the first season opening win for Drake men's soccer since Aug. 28, 2015 against Pacific.
• Drake men's soccer is now 11-11-3 in season openers dating back to 1998.