SAN ANTONIO, Texas – After its first scheduled match of the year got canceled to due poor weather, Drake University men's soccer officially started its 2025 season with a road victory in San Antonio. The Bulldogs used two goals in the first half to upend the University of Incarnate Word Cardinals, 2-1.

"Winning matches on the road is never easy," Drake head coach Pat Flinn said. "It's been a weird road trip with lots of time on the road waiting to play one match due to the weather cancellation [on Thursday]."

Preseason standout Eskil Gjerde scored first for the Bulldogs with a strike in the 17th minute. Gjerde was assisted on his score by Preston Kipnusu and Jackson Kirsch.
Drake added to its first half advantage just minutes later when Barrett Kitts joined the party. Kitts' first goal of the year came in the 29th stanza and gave the Bulldogs a 2-0 gap, which they would maintain through the remainder of the half.

The host Cardinals eventually chipped into Drake's lead with a Noe Robles goal in the 76th minute, but the Bulldogs had just enough to leave San Antonio with a 2-1 triumph.
 
"Credit to our guys for the way they came out and built the lead," Flinn added. "We need to be much stronger and more proactive with a lead if we want to continue winning road matches."
 
Kitts and Kipnusu each had two shots on goal for the Bulldogs, trailing only true freshman Crew Alvarez's three in the match. In net, Tomas Butkovic went the distance for the victory and notched a pair of saves.
 
The Bulldogs will remain on the road this week with a tilt at Marquette (Aug. 28) before returning to Des Moines for their home opener against Graceland (Aug. 31).