ST. LOUIS, Mo. – Head coach Pat Flinn and the Drake University men's soccer team has been tabbed as the preseason Missouri Valley Conference favorite ahead of the 2025 season. The Bulldogs were selected in a vote of the league's eight head coaches.
 
Drake, which went 9-5-3 overall and 5-1-2 in conference action last season, received three first-place votes and 56 total points. The Bulldogs were ahead of runner-up Bowling Green and third-place team Western Michigan, each with two first-place nods, plus 54 points and 51 points, respectively.
 
The Bulldogs also tied with Bowling Green with three players, the most among The Valley's contingency, on the 11-man Preseason All-MVC Team. Drake's Preseason All-MVC selections include defenders Ryder Barrett and Eskil Gjerde, and forward Preston Kipnusu.
 
MVC Preseason Favorites (Top 3)
1. Drake (3) - 56 points
2. Bowling Green (2) - 54 points
3. Western Michigan (2) - 51 points
 
Barrett was named to the All-Missouri Valley Conference Second Team in 2024 after tarting all 17 Drake games. He attempted two shots as one of the Dogs' leading defenders.
 
Gjerde enters this season as one of the nation's premier defenders to watch, per United Soccer Coaches. The native Norwegian was the 2024 Missouri Valley Conference Co-Midfielder of the Year along with Missouri State's Tyler Caton and was named to All-MVC First Team. He was also named to United Soccer Coaches All-West Region Second Team. Gjerde started in all 14 of his appearances and cashed in on two goals and an assist for five points…made 17 shots with nine on target.
 
Kipnusu was awarded Missouri Valley Conference Freshman of the Year and named to All-MVC Second Team and MVC All-Freshman Team last season. He had a standout rookie season with 15 starts and 17 total appearances while scoring four goals, two of which were game winners. Kipnusu dished out one assists to reach nine total points. He attempted 23 shots with eight on goal.
 
Preseason All-MVC
GK – Michal Mroz, Evansville
D - Ryder Barrett, Drake
D - Eskil Gjerde, Drake
D - Christian Shannon, Western Michigan
D - Dylan Steely, Belmont
M - Jose Gomez, Northern Illinois
M - Rui Reis, UIC
M - Andrew Shaffer, Bowling Green
F - Preston Kipnusu, Drake
F - Bennett Painter, Bowling Green
F - Trace Terry, Bowling Green
 
Drake men's soccer gets its season underway this week with Lone Star State road trip. The Bulldogs are set to being their 2025 campaign at Houston Christian (Aug. 21) and Incarnate Word (Aug. 24).