DRAKE MEN OPEN MVC SCHEDULE WITH 1-0 WIN AT UIC
CHICAGO – The Drake men's soccer team improved to 3-1-2 on the season after a tight 1-0 win at UIC Saturday evening. The Bulldogs' win over UIC marked the first match of the Missouri Valley Conference schedule.
Drake and MVC newcomer UIC traded pokes and prods throughout most of the first half in Chicago. Neither team could settle into a rhythm until roughly half an hour into the contest.
In the 32nd minute, UIC's Paul Brauckmann committed a foul in the box to give Drake a penalty kick. Bulldog leading scorer
AJ Franklin stepped up and delivered the go-ahead goal via PK.
Drake rode their 1-0 lead into halftime.
Trailing 1-0 after the break, UIC amped up their offensive pressure in the second half. The Flames outshot Drake 11-5 in the last 45 minutes of action.
Despite the increased effort, neither team could find the net again and the Drake defense maintained their advantage to give the Bulldogs a well-earned conference victory.
"Tonight was a gritty team effort that resulted in three crucial road points," Drake head coach
Pat Flinn said after the win. "We have played five road games in our first six [games] and came in here with the belief that we could get a good result against a very good UIC team.
AJ Franklin was massive for us again tonight. We will enjoy this bus ride back to Des Moines."
The Bulldogs will return to Cownie Soccer Somplex for their next two matches, a non-conference tilt against Marshalltown Community College on Tuesday, Sept. 27 and another MVC game versus SIUE on Saturday, Oct. 1.
NOTES
- AJ Franklin's goal was his fourth of the season, the most for any Drake player.
- Damian Sergura was the only other Bulldogs to attempt multiple shots with two.
- Jonathan Burke made a season-high nine saves.
- Saturday's win was the Bulldogs' second-consecutive conference-opening victory.
