DES MOINES, IOWA - The Drake
men's soccer team will play its first-ever home NCAA Tournament game on
Thursday (Nov. 19) as the Bulldogs (13-6-2) entertain Western Illinois (8-9-2)
in the opening round of the 48-team event at the Cownie Soccer Complex. Game time is set for 7:00 p.m.
Drake will be making its second consecutive and second overall
tournament appearance when it squares off against the Leathernecks. The Bulldogs enter the tilt ranked No.
24 in the final regular season Soccer America poll released on Monday (Nov.
16).
"Last year we were so excited about making it into the tournament we
would have gone anywhere to play anyone," Drake head coach Sean Holmes commented.
"This year we're more experienced and we're excited about the
opportunity to host a game."
Drake is meeting Western Illinois for the 20th time in school history
with the Bulldogs owning a 12-7 series advantage. Earlier this season, on the strength of a penalty kick from
senior Kevin Shrout (Lee's Summit,
Mo./Lee's Summit), Drake netted a 1-0 victory over the Leathernecks on Oct. 7
in Macomb, Ill.
"I think it is nice in a way to play a team we've seen before, but I
feel very confident playing any team at home," said Holmes. "I have to credit our seniors as they
have a sense of what their potential is and we've had some great momentum and
terrific results of late with our goalkeeper Michael Drozd playing well and
Garrett (Webb) scoring goals.
We're playing at a great facility at the Cownie Soccer Complex and we
expect a good crowd and are very optimistic about our chances."
Drake and Western Illinois shared three common opponents this season in
Evansville, UMKC and Northwestern.
The Leathernecks dropped 4-2, 1-0 (2OT) and 3-2 decisions, respectively,
to the Purple Aces, Kangaroos and Wildcats. The Bulldogs took two of three meetings from Evansville,
including Drake's 2-1 triumph in the championship match of the State Farm
Missouri Valley Conference Championship on Sunday (Nov. 15), dropped a 3-0
decision at UMKC (Sept. 20) and tied Northwestern, 2-2, on Sept. 25.
The winner of Thursday's game advances into the second round for a
showdown at fourth-seeded Ohio State (12-4-4) on Sunday (Nov. 22). Game time in Columbus, Ohio, is slated
for the 11:00 a.m. CT.
For ticket information fans are asked to contact the Drake ticket office
at (515) 271-DOGS (3647). Tickets are $7 for adults, $4 for youth, ages three to 18; and $2 for students. Tickets may also be purchased online, for information click here.
