DES MOINES, Iowa – Drake women's soccer hosted rival UNI on Saturday for another Valley tilt. The Bulldogs and Panthers battled on Drake's Alumni Day, and the home team had the last laugh, earning a 1-0 lead thanks to a late Zoey Mahoney score.
 
Drake dominated the stat sheet for nearly the entirety with 17 shots to UNI's three. The Bulldogs also had more attempts on target by a 7-1 margin while attempting over double the number of corner kicks, 6-2. The Bulldogs also drew 21 Panther fouls while committing just nine of their own.
 
Despite owning the tempo and outshooting UNI 9-0 over the first 45 minutes, Drake could not connect. The game sat in a scoreless tie at the halftime break.
 
The second period started with more of the same as the Bulldogs outshot their opponents 8-3 in the second half, but the scoreless drought was finally snapped in the 81st minute.
 
Zoey Mahoney collected a pass from teammate Ivy Sobel just outside the box. Mahoney controlled, evaded a defender, and unleashed a rocket off her left foot that found the top corner of the net. Her goal proved to be the difference as the 1-0 score held over the final nine minutes as Drake celebrated its triumph.

"This was the growth we hoped for coming off the UIC result," Drake head coach Lindsey Horner said. "The ball felt like pressure last week and tonight we looked quite comfortable in possession and far more cohesive. I still think we could have been more dangerous in the final third, but at this point in the season we are thrilled with a shutout win at home. Going into Illinois State we have to take our chances around the box as they're not conceding many goal. These final three games come fast and we are in good form, but we will need to be sharp in our preparation and recovery during this stretch."
 
Eve Blakey and Layla Kelbel each tried four shots with two on goal to lead all players. Claire Emmerich fired off three of her own while Madelyn Smith managed two attempts. Addie Ford made one save in net for the Bulldogs.
 
The trio of Caroline Hazen, Olivia Bohl, and Aynslea Ulschmid each took one shot for UNI with Hazen's being the only one to find the target. The Panthers utilized two goalkeepers as Thordis Melsted ranged the net in the first half and made four saves before Kennedy Buntenbach entered for the second frame and stopped a pair of shots.
 
Drake now sits at 4-1-1 in conference play and 7-4-4 overall while UNI is 4-6-3 on the year and 1-3-2 in MVC action.

"Tonight was our first-ever alumni weekend,"  Horner added. "We are so appreciative of the support we have received from our alums and all they've done to build our program both as players and alumni."
 
The Bulldogs are back on the pitch on Thursday, Oct. 23 for their final road trip of the regular season. Drake is slated to visit Illinois State for a 4 p.m. kick in Normal.