The Basics
The Drake women's soccer team is back on the pitch and continues its current homestand with two matches this week against crosstown foe Grand View on Wednesday, August 26 followed by a showdown with SIUE on Sunday, August 30. The match on Wednesday versus Grand View will serve as Senior Day for the Bulldogs with eight student-athletes being honored during a pregame ceremony.
 
Bulldogs by the Numbers
After dropping their first two contests of the season on the road, the Bulldogs bounced back with two home victories last week defeating Iowa State and St. Thomas (MN). Senior Angela Gutierrez scored in both contests and now leads the team in goals through the first four games of the season. Freshman Alexa Aylward and junior Isabella Balsley also found the back of the net last week for the Bulldogs. Goalkeeping duties have been evenly split this season for Drake with Addie Ford and Kate Hopma each going the full 90 minutes in two games. Ford has tallied eight saves and got the win over Iowa State, while Hopma has five saves to her credit and was the victor over the Tommies. 

Drake Leaders
Angela Gutierrez – 5 PTS, 2 G, 1 A, 5 SH, 3 SOG
Alexa Aylward – 2 PTS, 1 G, 3 SH, 2 SOG
Isabella Balsley – 2 PTS, 1 G, 6 SH, 2 SOG
Zoey Mahoney – 2 PTS, 2 A, 4 SH, 1 SOG
Addie Ford – 1-1-0 W/L, 8 SV, 1 GA, .889 SV%, 1 SHO
Kate Hopma – 1-1-0 W/L, 5 SV, 1 GA, .833 SV%, 1 SHO
 
Scouting Grand View
Grand View, a NAIA program just up the road in Des Moines, has just one game under its belt for the 2026 season, a 2-0 victory over Doane University. Dakota Enikova and Riley Pryor scored in the victory for the Vikings over Doane with Alli Seegers adding an assist. Maya Fritz tallied the shutout and only had to make one save in the contest.

Drake is 2-0 all-time against Grand View with the matches occurring in 2002 and 2014. The Bulldogs have never allowed a goal against the Vikings and have an all-time aggregate score of 9-0.
 
Grand View Leaders
Dakota Enikova – 2 PTS, 1 G, 1 SH, 1 SOG
Riley Pryor – 2 PTS, 1 G, 7 SH, 2 SOG
Alli Seegers – 1 PT, 1 A, 76 minutes
Maya Fritz – 1-0-0 W/L, 1 SV, 0 GA, 1.000 SV%, 1 SHO

Scouting SIUE
SIUE will come to town carrying an unbeaten record of 2-0-2 when it takes on the Bulldogs. The Cougars earned victories over Alabama A&M and Austin Peay and have ties against fellow MVC member Valparaiso and IU Indy. The Cougars were picked fifth in the OVC Preseason Poll, while goalkeeper Sarah Bozeman and Tori Bockstadter were named to the Preseason Watchlist. Meanwhile, Claire Nieroda has had a hot start to her 2026 campaign with eight points already (two goals, four assists).

Drake has the slight edge in the all-time series over SIUE by a mark of 4-3. The Bulldogs have won three-straight against the Cougars including a meeting last year from Edwardsville where Drake won 2-0.
 
SIUE Leaders
Claire Nieroda – 8 PTS, 2 G, 4 A, 19 SH, 13 SOG
Carson Bohnenstiehl – 5 PTS, 2 G, 1 A, 5 SH, 2 SOG
Tori Bockstadter - 4 PTS, 2 G, 5 SH, 4 SOG
Sarah Bozeman – 2-0-2 W/L, 20 SV, 5 GA, .800 SV%, 1 SHO

Up Next
Drake will end its homestand with a match against Western Illinois on Wednesday, September 2. Kickoff against the Leathernecks is slated for 5 p.m. from Mediacom Stadium.