DES MOINES, Iowa -- Playing at Mediacom Stadium for the first time, Drake women's soccer shut out Evansville 1-0 on Sunday (Oct. 15) for its 10th overall win of the season to stay atop the Missouri Valley Conference standings. 

"There are so many people who worked tirelessly behind the scenes to make sure we could get a game this season in our new stadium," head coach Lindsey Horner said. It might not feel like home just yet, but it's fantastic to compete in a facility like Mediacom Stadium."

Drake (10-3-3, 6-1-1 in MVC play) had three shot opportunities before striking first. In the 30th minute, Angela Gutierrez sent the ball from the far sideline into the 18-yard box to Emma Nagel, who passed it on to Layla Kelbel at the top of the six-yard box. Kelbel gained control with her left foot and tapped it into the back of the net for a 1-0 Drake advantage. 

The Bulldogs kept Evansville (1-5-8, 1-2-5) in check for most of the match. Trailing Drake 1-0 late during the 87th minute, the Purple Aces saw their best chances appear back-to-back. Reese Simmons first missed wide left of the net before firing a shot to Addie Ford for one of her two saves in goal. 

Drake doubled up the Aces in shots (16-8) and shots on goal (6-3). 

"We had some great performances in the attack," Horner said. "Layla (Kelbel), Maria (Cervello) and Madelyn (Smith) were nearly untouchable. This performance just missed that elusive second goal that would have made it less of a game. Their goalkeeper did well on some of our better chances in the second half. Sometimes having so much of the ball is a different kind of exhausting in having numerous decisions to make and the pressure to carry the game. Our backs did well to keep us from getting countered and we recognized Evansville's pressure changed as the game ticked on."

Drake women's soccer will end the regular season with back-to-back road contests starting with a 3 p.m. matinee on Thursday, Oct. 19 at Murray State. 

NOTES
- 10 wins are the most in a single season for Drake since the Bulldogs won 13 matches in 2017. 
- Drake women's soccer has won at least 10 games for the 10th time in program history. 
- Six conference wins tie Drake's program record for MVC wins (Drake went 6-0-1 in 2017). 
- Today was Drake's eighth shutout of the season and seventh shutout win this year. 
- Drake improved to 7-2-2 at home this season (1-0 at Mediacom Stadium). 
- The Bulldogs have won five consecutive games at home.
- Drake is also on a five-match unbeaten streak. 
- Layla Kelbel scored her fifth goal of the season (seventh of her career). 
- Angela Gutierrez has a team-high four assists so far this season. 
- Emma Nagel recorded her third assist of the season (eighth of her career). 
- Kelbel has scored a goal in back-to-back games.
- Nagel owns a team-best 17 points this season. 
- The Bulldogs lead the all-time series, 15-10-3 and have not lost to Evansville since Sept. 25, 2016.