DES MOINES, Iowa – Drake men's soccer (3-9-2, 1-5-1) ended their 2023 home schedule with a 3-1 loss to MVC-newcomer Bowling Green (7-5-3, 4-2-0) this afternoon. The Falcons used a first half lead and two scores in the second half to spoil Drake's Senior Day festivities.
 
Bowling Green got the scoring started in the ninth minute when Alberto Anaya netted his second score of the season on a penalty kick. The Falcons took their 1-0 lead into halftime despite trailing the Bulldogs 5-3 in total shots and 2-1 in corner kicks.
 
The Falcons added to their lead just 12 seconds after the halftime break ended. Bennett Painter corralled a long pass from Mads Christensen and sliced a shot into the back of the net for his first goal of the season. Painter found paydirt again in the 59th minute after a Jake Bergin assist to further extend the visitors' lead.
 
Drake dug in and started to chip away in the 78th minute when reserves Dalton Visconti and Erich Legut connected on the latter's first goal of the season. Legut's score made the tally 3-1 in favor of the Falcons.
 
Bowling Green was able to manage the final dozen minutes of action and clinch the 3-1 road victory.
 
In total, Drake outshot Bowling Green 12-9 and fired off four corner kicks to the Falcons' three. Kai Knuchel and Eloge Iradukunda each attempted three shots for Drake. Bowling Green goalkeeper Brendan Graves made one save, the only one in the match for either squad.
 
"Congratulations to our women's [soccer] team for capturing an MVC title today," Drake head coach Pat Flinn said. "We aspire to be in that position but are not there yet. We look forward to another week of training to chip away at that gap."
 
Drake will hit the road for the penultimate match of the 2023 regular season with a non-conference bout. The Bulldogs will travel to East Lansing, Mich. for a date with Michigan State on Friday, Oct. 27.