EAST LANSING, Mich. – Drake men's soccer (3-9-3, 1-5-1) played to their second non-conference draw of the year in their penultimate match of the regular season. The Bulldogs came back from a narrow first half deficit to tie the Spartans of Michigan State (7-1-7, 3-1-4).
 
Greyson Mercer got the scoring started for the Spartans after a Jeremy Sharp assist in the 18th minute. Mercer sent a header past Drake's keeper Quinn Millerd for his first score of the season.
 
The Spartans were looking to take their 1-0 advantage into the halftime break until Drake struck. In the 40th minute, freshman Dalton Visconti connected on a strike into the lower right corner of the net after assists by Eloge Iradukunda and Jackson Kirsch. It was Visconti's first goal of the year.
 
Both teams battled through the second half, but to no avail. The final horn sounded with one goal each as the Bulldogs and Spartans earned a 1-1 draw.
 
Michigan State outshot the Dogs 14-7 overall despite and even 4-4 tally in shots on goal. The Spartans also led in corner kicks, 7-4.
 
Millerd and MSU keeper Zac Kelly had identical lines in net with one goal allowed and three saves apiece.
 
"There are better seasons ahead for this group," Drake head coach Pat Flinn said. "Bouncing back from such a disappointing week at home by going on the road to earn a draw at the Big Ten leaders speaks to how much potential our group has. Talk is one thing, but earning a tangible result was a missing piece of the puzzle. I'm proud of our team tonight and I am excited about our future."
 
Drake's regular season schedule will expire with their next match, a road tilt at Missouri State. The Bulldogs and Bears will square off at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 1 at 6 p.m.