The Basics
The Drake University women's soccer team will play five consecutive road games starting with a 1 p.m. kickoff at Minnesota on Thursday, Sept. 1 before heading over to Brookings, S.D. for a Sunday night match at 6 p.m. at South Dakota State. 
 
Bouncing Back
Drake (1-3-0) is coming off a 3-1 home loss to Kansas on Sunday (Aug. 28). The Bulldogs are attempting to snap its first three-game losing streak since 2019 (Aug. 21- Sept. 1). Drake women's soccer snapped its 2019 losing skid against South Dakota State.
 
Lopez in Goal
Senior goalkeeper Vianey Lopez will be activated after a one game suspension served during the Kansas match. Lopez was assessed a late red card at St. Thomas last Thursday (Aug. 25).  Lopez has put together a three game resume with 11 total saves with a save percentage of 68%.
 
Scoring Threat
Drake's offense has been improving. Junior forward Emma Nagel got back into the goal column as she notched in a team leading and Missouri Valley Conference leading third goal of the season on Sunday (Aug. 28) versus Kansas. Through four games, Nagel has scored three out of the four Bulldog goals. 
 
Scouting Minnesota
The Golden Gophers (0-3-1) of the Big Ten are searching for their first win of the season coming off a 1-0 loss at Mississippi State on Sunday, Aug. 28. Minnesota has not scored a goal in its last two games. 
 
Leading the way for the Gophers has been forwards Khyah Harper and McKenna Buisman with each player scoring a goal for Minnesota this season. Buisman leads the team with six shots on goal and nine total shots. Harper has two shots on goal out of 10 total shots.
 
Head coach Erin Chastain is in her second season with a career record of 8-9-4. Chastain led Minnesota to a 5-3-2 record at home last year. 
 
Series History vs. Minnesota
Minnesota leads the all-time series 4-1-1 against Drake, including last year's 1-0 victory in Des Moines on Aug. 26, 2021. A victory for the Bulldogs would mark their first victory over a Power Five conference opponent since beating Nebraska in 2012. 
 
Scouting South Dakota State
Through four games, the Jackrabbits own an undefeated 3-0-1 record with their lone tie at Arizona State back on Aug. 18. SDSU is outscoring its opponents by an 8-3 margin.
 
Sixth year head coach Brock Thompson has a career record of 70-20-13. 
 
Helping South Dakota State to its best start through four games since 2006 is forward Maya Hansen. Hansen leads the Jackrabbits with three total goals and ranks second in the Summit League in scoring. Hansen also leads the team with nine points, three assists, five total shotsand has four shots on goal. Midfielder Avery Murdzek had added two goals and has registered the most shots (eight) on the squad. 
 
Along with Hansen, the Mandling sisters (Karlee and Kaycee) lead the Jackrabbits in assists with three which is tied for first in the Summit League. 
 
Series History vs. South Dakota State
The Jackrabbits lead the all-time series, 8-6-1 Drake won the last meeting in 2019 by a final score of 1-0. The Bulldogs are 3-4-0 when playing South Dakota State on the road.