ST. LOUIS, MO. - Drake senior forward Melissa Lewis (Edina, Minn./Edina) has been honored as the Missouri Valley Conference Women's Soccer Defensive Player of the Week.  This marks third occasion a Drake women's soccer player has been recognized this season and first time in which Lewis has been honored during her career.

Lewis turned in the save of the season for the Bulldogs in the 27th minute (26:52) of Drake's 3-1 win over Indiana State in the opening round of the State Farm MVC Championship on Sunday (Nov. 1).  With the Bulldogs nursing a 1-0 lead, Casey Allbright's shot got past goalkeeper Kourtney Arnold (Norwalk, Iowa/Norwalk) and Lewis raced out of nowhere and was able to get her foot in front of the ball just before it crossed the goal line. 

The save was pivotal, as it would have tied the game at one (and with Allbright's tally to start the second half ultimately given Indiana State a 2-1 lead three minutes into the second half).  The Bulldogs didn't score the game-winning goal until the 87:48 mark to record their first MVC Tournament win since 2007.

The Bulldogs (9-8-3) return to action on Friday (Nov. 6) against MVC regular season champion Illinois State in the tournament semifinals.  Game time at Morrison Stadium in Omaha, Neb., is slated for 3:30 p.m.