ST. LOUIS, Mo. – The Drake University men's soccer team recently closed a historic slate of games with a claim to the first regular season conference championship in program history, and the accolades continued with the MVC postseason awards.

Senior Eskil Gjerde collected Midfielder of the Year and First Team All-MVC honors for his efforts. Gjerde, who was named Co-Midfielder of the Year last season, scored one goal and dished out two assists for the Bulldogs this season. He made seven total shots, four of which were on goal, while a serving as one of the team's emotional and competitive leaders.

Urbandale native Cole Schrage earned the first All-MVC recognition of his career as a First Team defender. The team's iron man, Schrage was second on the team in minutes with 1,420 played this season, behind only goalkeeper Tomas Butkovic. Schrage assisted three times while taking eight shots on the season.

Butkovic was one of three All-MVC Second Team selections as a keeper. The Australian sophomore recorded a league-high seven shutouts in the regular season. He was second in the league in goals against average (.760), third in the conference in save percentage (.778), and fifth in the league in saves (42). Butkovic went 8-2-6 while playing nearly every minute for Drake.

Sam DeLong and Preston Kipnusu were the other two second teamers for the Bulldogs. DeLong assisted once and shot four times as a key member of Drake's lockdown defensive unit.

Kipnusu was one of two Bulldogs atop the stat sheet with nine points on the year. He scored a team-high four goals on 30 total shots with one assist to his credit. Kipnusu was the only Drake player with multiple game-winning goals. He adds this year's honor to a loaded record book including last season's MVC Freshman of the Year, another All-MVC Second Team nod, and MVC All-Freshman Team status.

Lastly, Drake rookie Crew Alvarez was named to the MVC All-Freshman Team. Alvarez scored a goal, which came in game-winning fashion, on 17 shots this season and distributed four assists.

These standout Bulldogs and the rest of the Drake men's team will begin postseason play on Nov. 12 in the semifinals of the 2025 MVC Men's Soccer Championship. The Bulldogs will battle the winner of Western Michigan and Northern Illinois in Des Moines.