Box Score DES MOINES, Iowa – The Drake University women's soccer team could not chase down the Jayhawks of Kansas in their 2024 Mediacom Stadium debut. The Bulldogs allowed the game's lone score in the late stages of the first half but could not scratch a tally on the board for themselves, despite a great defensive showing.
 
Drake (0-1-1) and Kansas (2-0-0) fought through the first 42 minutes of action with nothing to show but missed shots. Eventually, KU's Emika Kawagishi (43') corralled a loose ball in the box and fired a score off her right foot. Kawagishi's first goal of the season proved to be a big one as neither team could mount any more damage.
 
Overall Kansas' lone goal came on 13 shots, including five on target, while Drake managed only one total attempt --- an Avery Mertz header in the second half.
 
"This was a much better defensive effort from us than our first game," Drake head coach Lindsey Horner said. "However, as the game went on our ability to possess through pressure got tested as we fatigued. Keeping the ball will have to be a strength of ours in MVC play so I do look forward to improving upon that in our next two games. "
 
Lexi Watts fired off four of Kansas' 13 shots while Kawagishi and Raena Childers managed two apiece. In goal, Sophie Dawe made one save for the Jayhawks while Drake's Addie Ford logged four.
 
"We made the game exciting there at the end with a clever ball from Eve [Blakey] to Hannah [Renz] and again when Layla [Kelbel] got in behind [the defense]," Horner continued. "I love to see that with minutes left down a goal to a power conference team we still have the fight to try to get the equalizer. I do think today, and these next two games, will reveal a lot about our character and give us a lot to build on as we prepare for MVC play."
 
Drake will remain in Des Moines for their next match as the Bulldogs' three-game homestand is set to continue. Iowa State will visit Mediacom Stadium on Thursday, Aug. 22 for the first game of a double-header with the Drake men's soccer squad taking on Grand View to follow.