DES MOINES, Iowa – The Drake University men's soccer team capped a Bulldog double feature at Mediacom Stadium on Wednesday evening with a home match against Omaha. The Bulldogs and Mavericks provided the nightcap, which ended in a 1-1 tie, after their women's counterparts started the festivities.
 
Omaha (0-3-1) entered Wednesday's action with three losses in as many matches to start the 2025 season. The Mavericks seemed to slip behind Drake's pace and effort in the opening stages as the Bulldogs owned time of possession in the first half but capitalized to draw first blood.
 
The Mavericks found a blip Drake's sturdy attack in the 39th minute when reserve Bradley Takamo put a Yoshiki Igarashi corner kick offering past Drake (2-0-2) keeper Tomas Butkovic for the match's first score.
 
Omaha held on to their 1-0 advantage into halftime.
 
The Bulldogs, who competed soundly from the first whistle until the final horn, came out of the break with increased intentionality and eventually knotted the tally.
 
In the 61st minute, Omaha's Maguire Perkins was flagged for a foul in the box, prompting a Drake penalty kick. Jackson Kirsch stepped up and buried the PK to even the score at 1-all.
 
The intensity continued to ramp up from there as both sides did their best to manufacture the game-winner, but the defenses remained firm as the 1-1 score held through the remainder of the bout.
 
"We are annoyed with the result but pleased with the performance," Drake head coach Pat Flinn said. "We asked for 90 minutes of commitment and intensity and that's exactly what our guys gave tonight. [It's] always tough when you concede first on a set piece, but prior to the goal we were dominant and the response after the goal was what it takes."
 
Drake outshot Omaha 10-6 overall and 5-2 on goal with four corner kicks to the Mavericks' three. A total of 10 yellow cards were assigned between the two squads, including two to the Bulldog bench, specifically Flinn and associate head coach Kyle Smith.
 
Kirsch took two total shots, which trailed Preston Kipnusu and Jonathan Mendez's three. Butkovic made one save for the Bulldogs.
 
Drake will hit the road for their next two matches against Tulsa (Sep. 6) and Kansas City (Sep. 9).