The Basics
Drake men's soccer will get its 2024 season started in a big way as the Bulldogs are set to close a Thursday-night double-header on Aug. 22. The Drake men will square off against Grand View at 7:30 p.m. after the Bulldog women host Iowa State at 5 p.m. The Bulldogs' first week will then continue with a road tilt at Creighton on Aug. 25.
 
Bulldogs by the Numbers
Drake will look to bounce back after a challenging 2023 season in which they went 3-10-3 overall and 1-6-1 in MVC play. The Bulldogs will have heightened expectations despite losing start forward AJ Franklin due to a selection of key returners coming back to Des Moines. Those veterans include 2023 MVC All-Freshman Team member Jackson Kirsch, veteran defender Brennan Rzewuski, sparkplug Damian Segura, and others.
 
The Bulldogs were slated eighth in the 2024 MVC Preseason Poll with 19 total points.
 
Key Returners (2023 stats)
Jackson Kirsch | 16 GP – 12 GS – 18 PTS – 3 G – 2 A – 17 SH – 7 SOG – GW
Damian Segura | 14 GP – 11 GS – 8 PTS – 2 G – 4 A – 10 SH – 5 SOG
Quinn Millerd | 8 GP – 7 GS – 20 SV – 11 GA – .645 SV% – 1-4-2 W/L
 
Scouting Grand View
Grand View went 9-7-1 overall and 4-6-1 in conference action last season. The Vikings went 3-2 over their last five matchups including a season-ending victory at Culver-Stockton College. Thursday will also be Grand View's 2024 season opener.
 
Drake is 2-1 all-time vs. Grand View dating back to 1999. The Vikings won the most recent tilt in 2004.
 
Grand View Leaders
Lucas Newhard | 16 GP – 13 GS – 21 PTS – 9 G – 3 A – 34 SH – 20 SOG – 3 GW
Samuel Londono | 16 GP – 9 GS – 8 PTS – G – 6 A – 14 SH – 6 SOG
Emiliano Laguna | 6 GP – 6 GS – 22 SV – 8 GA – .733 SV% – 2-0-1 W/L

Scouting Creighton
The Bluejays of Creighton will also be looking to improve upon a middling 2023 record after going 4-7-6 overall and 3-3-2 in Big East Conference play. Creighton will get their season started on Thursday vs. Florida Atlantic (Aug. 22) before hosting Drake in an MVC throwback contest.

Creighton Leaders
Jackson Castro | 17 GP – 17 GS – 10 PTS – 2 G – 6 A – 48 SH – 15 SOG
Miguel Arilla | 16 GP – 8 GS – 12 PTS – 4 G – 4 A – 31 SH – 13 SOG
Blake Gillingham | 11 GP – 11 GS – 46 SV – 18 GA – .719 SV% – 3-4-4 W/L
 
Up Next
Drake will stay on the road for their next two matches as they visit Chicago for back-to-back contests. The Bulldogs will battle Northwestern on Aug. 30 and DePaul on Sep. 2.