DES MOINES, Iowa -- The Drake women's soccer team put their foot on the gas pedal and never let off it in the second half en route to a 2-0 shutout win over Illinois State on Thursday night (Sept. 29) at Drake Stadium. Offensive pressure and four saves by Vianey Lopez led the Bulldogs to their first Missouri Valley Conference victory and clean sheet of the season. Drake improved to 2-6-4 overall (1-1-2 in MVC play) while the Redbirds dropped to 2-10 (0-4). 

The Bulldogs controlled the pace of play over the first 45 minutes and kept the ball on the Redbird side of the field. Drake outshot Illinois State, 5-1 in the first 23 minutes of the match. Emma Nagel and Rachel Panther combined for four of those five shots. Both of Nagel's shots were on goal (third and 17th minute).  

Drake put Illinois State on the defensive early in the game, but as suspected, the Redbirds put together an offensive run of their own. Samantha Cenek and Leah Crotty each led the team with two shots in the first half. Drake's stout defense held top offensive threat Allison Baker (entered with 11 shots on goal) to one lone shot in the half. 

The Redbirds and Bulldogs were locked into a scoreless deadlock at halftime. 

"We did a better job of getting faced forward with the ball after halftime," head coach Lindsey Horner said. "Not just out wide, but also in central areas and that really opened up the game for us."

Wasting no time, the Bulldog offense came out with tenacious intensity. Nagel led the charge In the first nine minutes of the second half with back-to-back shots on goal in the 50th and 52nd minute. 30 seconds later, Freshman midfielder Lauren Kullberg added a shot on goal of her own.

Drake struck first in the 54th minute after a corner kick was lined up perfectly by Panther to freshman Grace Smith for her first collegiate goal. Smith leaped and whipped in a header right past the ISU keeper. 

Continuing to keep the ball in Illinois State territory, the Bulldogs punched in their second goal during the 66th minute. Drake passed with a purpose and forced the Redbirds on their heels. Panther controlled the ball, slicing through the defense when she found Smith, who kicked the ball behind her to Meghan Brown. The senior from Chatfield, Minn., popped her first career collegiate goal over the keeper into the back of the net. 

In contrast to previous games, Drake dominated the entire second half. The Bulldogs outshot the Redbirds 11-2 in the second half, including an eight-to-one difference in shots on goal. 

"This team has worked really hard to enjoy a shutout win at home," Horner said. "We need the bye this weekend to rest up and get back on the road at UNI."

Drake turns its focus to facing in-state rival UNI on Thursday, Oct. 6 in Cedar Falls. Kickoff is set for 3 p.m. 

NOTES

• The victory broke a 10-game winless streak for the Bulldogs, their longest drought since 2013 (eight consecutive winless results). 
• Meghan Brown scored her first career goal as a senior after playing in 59 games with Drake.
• With two assists tonight, Rachel Panther doubled her season assist total to four, which ranks second in the MVC. 
• In addition to scoring her first collegiate goal, Grace Smith also provided her first career collegiate assist in the 66th minute. 
• The Bulldogs improved to 10-12-3 against Illinois State all-time. Drake is 4-1-1 against the Redbirds since 2017.