DES MOINES, Iowa – Drake University women's soccer began its 2025 season this evening with a home non-conference tilt against the Cowgirls of Wyoming. Both teams played through a scoreless first half before each side cashed in once during the final 45 minutes to reach the 1-1 final tally.
 
Wyoming, thanks to a physical style of play, maintained an advantage on the attack throughout much of the first half. The Cowgirls managed two shots while Drake could not muster an attempt. The Cowgirls also fired off four corner kicks to Drake's one in the opening period.
 
"We gained good experience tonight from a team that plays very different from us," Drake head coach Lindsey Horner said. "Wyoming was very physical and good in the air and how tried to play out the first half wasn't working. Our players did a great job of making adjustments that allowed us to control more of the game in the second half."
 
The Bulldogs came out of the locker room with a different mindset, hitting the Cowgirls with a more intentional offensive approach. Drake's increased pressure led to the game's first goal as Eve Blakey rebounded her own miss to notch a score in the 52nd minute.
 
Drake's 1-0 lead held until the 73rd stanza when Wyoming's Kiley Ballek collected a rebound of her own off a Cowgirl free kick and deposited it into the back of the net.
 
Both squads did their best to snap the even standing over the final 18 minutes of action, but neither could connect as the match concluded in a 1-1 result.
 
"It's always disappointing to give away the equalizer off a free kick, but we regrouped and created some exciting moments at the end," Horner added. "We needed a game like this early on to prepare for the battles ahead on our schedule."
 
Wyoming made seven shots in the second half for a total of nine in the contest while all five of Drake's occurred in the final 45 minutes. The Bulldogs did outshoot Wyoming in tries on target with three, all of which were credited to Blakey.
 
Wyoming keeper Haley Bartel made two saves while Drake's Kate Hopma, who entered to start the second half after Addie Ford began the game in net, made one stop.
 
The Bulldogs will be back in action this Sunday in Mediacom Stadium for another non-conference bout. Drake is set to host South Dakota with kickoff slated for 1 p.m.