DES MOINES, Iowa – The Drake men's soccer team (1-2-0) picked up their first victory of the 2023 season with 1-0 decision over Western Illinois (0-3-0). The Bulldogs benefitted from an early score and staunch defensive play in the second half to earn the win.
 
Drake outshot Western Illinois 12-4 and attempted six corner kicks to the Leathernecks' two. One of the Bulldogs' corners proved profitable as Austin Holtebeck leapt to head a Damian Segura offering into the back of the net. The 20th-minute score was the only goal of the match and Holtebeck's first of the season.
 
Western Illinois came out of the halftime break with increased energy but could not mount any genuine threats. The Bulldogs also struggled to get into a serious rhythm in the second period, but continued to grind and eventually secured the shutout victory.
 
Ryder Barrett, AJ Franklin, and Eloge Iradukunda all put shots on goal, but Holtebeck's header was the only one to sneak past Leatherneck keeper Youssou Ouendeno. The WIU goalie made three saves in his 90 minutes in net. The Bulldogs' keeper, Kevin Qi, logged just one save as Drake's defense kept the Leatherneck attack from striking.
 
"We felt like we needed a win tonight," Drake head coach Pat Flinn said, "Which is never easy in soccer. Credit to our guys, they came out flying and could have put the game away in the first half. As nice as it would have been to get the second goal, I believe in grinding out a 1-0 result for our first win will pay dividends when we are in that position again. Go Bulldogs."
 
Drake will hit the road for their next match, visiting Kansas City on Monday, Sep. 4 for a Labor Day battle.