The Basics
The Drake women's soccer team returns to action this week with one match at home and one from the road. The Bulldogs close out their five-game homestand as they welcome Western Illinois to Mediacom Stadium on Wednesday, September 2 at 5 p.m. Drake then travels to Vermillion, South Dakota, to challenge the South Dakota Coyotes on Sunday, Sep. 6 at 1 p.m.
Wednesday's match versus Western Illinois marks the annual Mental Health Awareness Game for Drake Women's Soccer. As part of brining awareness to end the stigma surrounding mental health, the Bulldogs will be wearing special green uniforms during the match.
 
Bulldogs by the Numbers
The Bulldogs are a prefect 4-0 over their last four contests, which all have been on home turf. Drake has defeated Iowa State, St. Thomas, Grand View, and SIUE during its current four-match winning streak by a combined score of 12-0. Last week the Bulldogs routed Grand View, 5-0, and took down SIUE, 3-0.

The recent offensive catalyst for Drake has been senior midfielder Angela Gutierrez. The Oakdale, Minnesota native has been on a tear during this homestand scoring five goals over the four matches. She leads the team in goals (5), points (12), shots (12), and shots on goal (6). She also is tied for second in assists on the team with two. From the defensive side, Addie Ford and Alanna Pennington were just named the Missouri Valley Conference Goalkeeper and Defensive Player of the Week.

Drake Leaders
Angela Gutierrez – 12 PTS, 5 G, 2 A, 12 SH, 6 SOG
Alexa Aylward – 4 PTS, 2 G, 4 SH, 3 SOG
Isabella Balsley – 4 PTS, 1 G, 2 A, 9 SH, 3 SOG
Zoey Mahoney – 4 PTS, 4 A, 5 SH, 2 SOG
Addie Ford – 2-1-0 W/L, 9 SV, 1 GA, .900 SV%, 1 SHO
Kate Hopma – 2-1-0 W/L, 5 SV, 1 GA, .833 SV%, 1 SHO
 
Scouting Western Illinois
The Leathernecks are still searching for their first win of the season as they come to Des Moines with a record of 0-6. Western Illinois was outscored by its opponents by a combined score of 21-1 during the month of August. WIU has already faced three other MVC members (Indiana State, Southern Illinois, and Valparaiso) this season and was outscored 12-0. Rita Moran has the lone goal of the season for the Leathernecks, while Nelly Beliveau leads the team in shots (9) and shots on goal (4).

Drake leads the all-time series over Western Illinois with a mark of 11-4-1. The Bulldogs are unbeaten against the Leathernecks in the last eight meetings going 7-0-1. Last season Drake defeated WIU from Macomb, 5-0.
 
Western Illinois Leaders
Rita Moran – 2 PTS, 1 G, 2 SH, 1 SOG
Callie McMurtrey – 1 PT, 1 A, 1 SH
Nelly Beliveau – 9 SH, 4 SOG
Mahe-Lee Caron – 0-3-0 W/L, 20 SV, 11 GA, .645 SV%

Scouting South Dakota
The Coyotes currently hold an overall record of 2-2-2 so far in 2026 and will go up against the Idaho Vandals before welcoming the Bulldogs to town. In its last time out, South Dakota fell to Wyoming by a score of 5-2. Wyoming defeated Drake in the season opener a few weeks ago from Laramie, 1-0. The Coyotes were picked fourth in the Summit League preseason poll.

The duo of Brooke Conway and Sadie Strait lead the Coyotes in points through the first six games of the year with five apiece. Conway and Strait both have scored two goals and have one assist to their credit. Kinsely Pesicka has also scored a pair of goals for the Coyotes for another offensive threat. Cambell Fischer is the primary goalkeeper for South Dakota, and the redshirt junior has tallied 24 saves and seven goals allowed.

The all-time series between Drake and South Dakota is deadlocked at 7-7-1. Drake is 3-2-1 all-time in road contests against South Dakota, but the Coyotes have had recent success over the Bulldogs going 6-0-1 over the last seven matches, including a 2-1 victory last season from Des Moines.
 
South Dakota Leaders
Brooke Conway – 5 PTS, 2 G, 1 A, 9 SH, 4 SOG
Sadie Strait – 5 PTS, 2 G, 1 A, 7 SH, 4 SOG
Kinsely Pesicka - 4 PTS, 2 G, 6 SH, 4 SOG
Cambell Fischer – 2-2-2 W/L, 24 SV, 7 GA, .774 SV%, 1 SHO

Up Next
Drake stays on the road for its non-conference final against Omaha on Saturday, Sep. 12. Kickoff with the Mavericks is slated for 6 p.m.