VERMILLION, S.D. – The Drake women's soccer team hit the road for the first time in five matches on Sunday morning as it challenged the South Dakota Coyotes in the penultimate game of the non-conference slate for the Bulldogs. Ultimately, Drake saw its winning streak come to an end falling to the Coyotes, 2-0.
After not allowing a shot against Western Illinois in their last match, it was different this time around for the Bulldogs with South Dakota registering its first shot just 25 seconds in. The South Dakota attack continued to test the Drake defense as the first half played on and for the first time in five matches the Bulldog defense allowed a goal.
Klarissa Vega was the goal scorer for the Coyotes poking one past
Addie Ford off assists from Kinsley Pesicka and Taylor Mulligan in the 23rd minute.
The Bulldogs, meanwhile, tallied five shots in the first half but none marked on target and went into the locker room facing a 1-0 deficit.
When the action resumed after the halftime break, the Bulldogs went to their top goalscorer,
Angela Gutierrez, to provide an offensive spark. The senior proceeded to rip a pair of shots in the early goings of the second half, but one was blocked and the other went off target.
South Dakota, however, capitalized on its first shot attempt of the second half with Brooklynn Pollmiller scoring a 56th minute goal and putting the Bulldogs in a 2-0 hole.
Drake eventually was able to force some shots on net down the stretch, but all five of the Bulldog attempts were saved by the time the final whistle sounded.
"We obviously need to get better on the road," Drake head coach
Lindsey Horner said. "Statistically it was a fairly even game. Their keeper made a great save at a pivotal moment that kept us from gaining much momentum. Credit to South Dakota as they seem to have our number, but they're very good at going back to front incredibly quick and asking questions of our backline. [South Dakota] posed a problem we have yet to see, so when we find ourselves in a similar match up during MVC play I am confident we will be better prepared."
The Bulldogs totaled 17 shots in the contest, just one less than South Dakota at 18, and the two sides matched with five shots on goal. Gutierrez led the Bulldogs with seven shots on the day and had one come on net.
Zoey Mahoney was next in line with three shots all of which were on target. Ford ended up with three saves over the full 90 minutes, meanwhile.
Drake's next match will take place on the road against Omaha on Saturday, September 12. Kickoff against the Mavericks is slated for 6 p.m.
