EVANSVILLE, Ind. – The Drake men's soccer team won its fourth straight game as the Bulldogs kicked off their 2024 MVC slate on Saturday night. Drake outlasted Evansville on the road with a goal in each half to get back to .500 away from Des Moines this season.
 
Both Drake (5-2-0, 1-0-0) and Evansville (4-3-0, 0-1-0) entered the weekend with identical 4-2 records, but it was the Bulldogs that earned the first advantage. True freshman Preston Kipnusu headed in his third goal of the year in the 29th minute after an Erich Legut assist. The Bulldogs carried their 1-0 lead into the half.


 
The second half was even more competitive as the Purple Aces ramped up their urgency after Drake's initial score. The Bulldogs maintained their narrow 1-0 lead until the final few minutes when Damian Segura connected on an absolute seed off his left foot (87') that curled around a UE defender and the Purple Aces' keeper. Segura's goal was his fifth of the season, and gave the Dogs a 2-0 favor.


 
Segura's late insurance score proved vital as Evansville swiftly marched down the pitch and got a step closer. With just 45 seconds remaining on the clock, Nacho Diaz Barragan assisted Samuel Owusu's third score of the 2024 campaign.
 
Despite the scare, Drake held on for the final few moments to secure the 2-1 victory and win their fourth match in a row. Saturday marked the Bulldogs first four game winning streak since the 2019 season.
 
"Road games are tough," Drake head coach Pat Flinn said. "But road conference games are really tough. Even when phases of the game are challenging, our guys are competing like dogs. I'm proud of these guys and excited to keep going."
 
The Bulldogs outshot Evansville 9-6 overall and 6-3 in shots on goal. Drake goalkeeper Tomas Butkovic, another first-year standout, had a pair of saves.
 
Team captain Ryder Barrett echoed Flinn's remarks, "The boys really dug deep against a good Evansville side on the road. The hard work makes the result feel much more gratifying."
 
Drake will remain on the road for their next match, a tilt at Omaha on Sep. 17, before returning home and to MVC play versus Belmont on Sep. 22.