DES MOINES, Iowa – Twenty-five different Bulldogs saw time on the rain-soaked pitch of Mediacom Stadium as Drake men's soccer opened its home schedule with a 3-0 defeat of NAIA foe Graceland University.
 
The Bulldogs and Yellowjackets traded jabs in the opening stages of Sunday's contest until Drake drew first blood. Star sophomore Preston Kipnusu elevated and got his head on a contested corner kick to beat the Graceland keeper and get the Dogs on the board. Kipnusu's 21st-minute goal was assisted by Jackson Kirsch.
 
The 1-0 Drake advantage until the half.
 
The Bulldogs did not wait too long into the second stanza to add a pair of insurance goals. In the 56th minute, Cole Schrage lobbed a cross into the box where Dalton Visconti used his head to beat the Yellowjacket keeper.
 
A few beats later, in the 61st frame, Eskil Gjerde and Snorre Espersen complete a Scandinavian connection for Drake's third goal. Gjerde, a native Norwegian, placed a perfect touch pass in front of a cutting Espersen, who hails from Denmark, and fired one home to reach the eventual 3-0 final score.
 
Kipnusu took three shots to lead the Drake attack, just ahead of Kirsch, Kitts, and Espersen with two apiece. True freshman Charlie-Finn Barrett earned his first collegiate start on Sunday and led the Bulldogs with 87 minutes of action.
 
In goal, Tomas Butkovic started and made two saves before exiting for veteran keeper Quinn Millerd in the 72nd minute.
 
"Hats off to Graceland," Drake head coach Pat Flinn said. "They came and competed and earned the respect of our squad. Our mission is to keep growing and improving in this phase of the season. Over the next 10 days we will play three tough matches that will give us a real sense of where we are at."
 
Drake will hit the field in Mediacom Stadium again for its next match, this time versus Omaha. The Bulldogs and Mavericks will kick things of at around 7:30 p.m. as the nightcap of a men's and women's soccer doubleheader.