The Basics
The Drake women's soccer team is set to close out its regular season on Thursday afternoon with a road trip to in-state rival UNI. Kickoff against the Panthers will be at 1 p.m. from the UNI Soccer Field in Cedar Falls.
Bulldogs by the Numbers
The Bulldogs have secured a top-two seed in the MVC Tournament and a bye to the semifinal round after beating Illinois State this past Sunday, 1-0. Drake can still be crowned the regular season champions for the second consecutive season with a few different scenarios. Drake will earn the No. 1 seed with a win at UNI and a loss or draw by Southern Illinois to Indiana State. Drake can also earn the No. 1 seed with a draw against UNI and a loss by SIU. If Southern Illinois defeats Indiana State, the Saluki's clinch the No. 1 seed.
Drake is looking to become the first back-to-back regular season champion in the MVC since Loyola Chicago repeated regular season titles in 2020 and 2021.
The Bulldogs have scored a total of 34 goals this season, which is currently tied for the most goals in a single season in program history. The 2004 and 2007 squads also totaled 34 goals in their respective campaigns.
Zoey Mahoney was named the MVC Defensive Player of the Week for the fourth time this season the league announced on Tuesday. Mahoney helped Drake earn its eighth shutout of the season on home turf in its 1-0 defeat over Illinois State last week. Mahoney and the Bulldogs secured an unbeaten record at home this season with a mark of 8-0-1 and only allowed one goal to opponents in home games this season
Drake Leaders
Angela Gutierrez – 25 PTS, 10 G, 5 A, 49 SH, 24 SOG
Alexa Aylward – 15 PTS, 7 G, 1 A, 22 SH, 10 SOG
Zoey Mahoney – 14 PTS, 3 G, 8 A, 19 SH, 9 SOG
Addie Ford – 4-2-2 W/L, 25 SV, 6 GA, .806 SV%, 2 SHO
Kate Hopma – 7-1-1 W/L, 19 SV, 4 GA, .826 SV%, 2 SHO
Scouting UNI
The Panthers have been eliminated from postseason contention with an overall record of 1-12-3 and a league record of 1-5-2. UNI, however, is unbeaten in home contests against conference foes this season as it looks to play spoiler to Drake's regular season champion hopes.
Ella Ubben has the most points for UNI on the year with five coming off two goals and one assist. Ubben is the only player that has scored multiple goals for the Panthers this season. UNI has totaled just six goals this season.
The Bulldogs own the lead in the all-time series with the Panthers by a mark of 16-5-5. Drake is unbeaten in its last six meetings against UNI with a record of 5-0-1. The Bulldogs won last year's contest by a score of 1-0 from Des Moines. Drake is 6-2-4 in away games all-time against UNI.
UNI Leaders
Ella Ubben – 5 PTS, 2 G, 1 A, 24 SH, 9 SOG
Kailey O'Brien – 2 PTS, 1 G, 16 SH, 5 SOG
Abi Roberts – 2 PTS, 1 G, 14 SH, 4 SOG
Hailey Luedtke – 1-10-3 W/L, 77 SV, 25 GA, .755 SV%, 2 SHO
Up Next
Drake's next contest will be in the semifinal round of the MVC Tournament. That game will be played on Thursday, Nov. 12 at 6 p.m. from Des Moines. The Bulldogs' opponent will be determined after the completion of the quarterfinal round on Sunday, Nov. 8.
