Sitting second in the race for the regular season Missouri Valley Conference crown, Drake will be tested in its quest to settle seeding for next week's State Farm MVC Championship (Nov. 13-15) at the Cownie Soccer Complex as the Bulldogs play at Eastern Illinois on Wednesday (Nov. 4) before hosting Creighton on Saturday (Nov. 7). Game time against the Panthers is slated for 2:30 p.m., while the Senior Night showdown with the Bluejays will commence at 7:00 p.m.
SCOUTING THE OPPONENTS
Eastern Illinois (6-7-3, 2-5-1 MVC) comes into play this week on the heels of a 1-0 setback at Bradley. Freshman Kyle Bullock and sophomore Jonathan Hinds direct the Eastern Illinois attack with three goals each. Junior Sean Molony has been solid in net for the Panthers, having registered 68 saves with a 1.232 goals against average. As a team, Eastern Illinois is rated second in the conference in saves (4.69) and third in shutouts (0.44). In MVC-only affairs, Eastern Illinois is ranked first in saves (5.88) and third in shutouts (0.38).
Creighton (7-3-4, 4-2-3 MVC) pulled off its biggest win of the season last Saturday (Oct. 31) as the Bluejays knocked off No. 7 UCLA, 1-0, on Senior Night at Morrison Stadium. Sophomore Ethan Finlay directs the Creighton attack with seven goals and three assists. The Bluejays' success this season has been predicated on defense as Creighton has surrendered just seven goals. Sophomore goalkeeper Brian Holt has registered 31 saves and sports a 0.48 GAA. As a team, the Bluejays are rated first in the conference in goals allowed (0.50) and goals against average (0.47). In MVC-only affairs, Creighton leads the league in shots per game (17.00), assists per game (2.00), goals allowed (0.56) and goals against average (0.52).
SERIES HISTORY
Drake will battle Eastern Illinois for the 19th time, with the Bulldogs maintaining a 10-5-3 series advantage. Drake will be squaring off against Creighton for the 28th time in school history, with the Bluejays having dominated the series, 19-2-6.
THE COACHES
Eastern Illinois: Adam Howarth is in his 10th campaign leading the Panthers and maintains a 75-91-19 record (.457).
Creighton: Bob Warming is in his 14th campaign leading the Bluejays and maintains a 190-60-33 record (.730) and is 383-179-63 (.663) in 32 years overall.
Drake: In his 12th season on the Drake sidelines as head coach is Sean Holmes, who owns a 97-101-23 mark (.491), including 175-127-25 (.573), overall in his 17th year as a head coach.
DRAKE HEAD COACH SEAN HOLMES
Sean Holmes was named head coach at Drake in 1998 and is in his 12th season at the helm of the Drake men's soccer program. Under Holmes, the Bulldogs have posted an 97-101-23 record and have built a legacy of excellence on Drake's campus and in the Missouri Valley Conference. Holmes is dedicated to the ideal of developing the whole student-athlete.
Holmes led the Bulldogs to a school-record 13-5-1 mark in 2008, including six-consecutive shutouts to open the season. Drake finished second in the MVC with a 4-1-0 record and made its first-ever NCAA tournament appearance, receiving an at-large bid. The Bulldogs were nationally ranked for the final 11 weeks of the season.
Holmes came to Drake after serving as the top assistant at conference-rival Evansville from 1995-98. During his tenure at Evansville, the Aces compiled a 47-30-6 record, winning the 1996 MVC championship. The team, which he helped build, garnered an NCAA Tournament berth and a top-20 ranking.
Holmes was head coach at Baker University in Baldwin City, Kan., from 1989-93, compiling a 78-26-2 record, leading the 1991, 1992 and 1993 teams to NAIA District 10 championships. Holmes also served as director of the Olympic Development Program in Kansas for two years.
Holmes was named NAIA Midwest Coach of the Year in 1992, and NAIA District 10 Coach of the Year in 1992 and 1993. He was the Heart of America Athletic Conference Coach of the Year in 1990 and 1991.
Holmes holds a USSF 'A' level coaching license and is a member of the Region II staff for the Olympic Development Program. He serves as a staff coach for the Iowa Soccer Association, and also served as age group coach for both the 1978 and 1984 Region II teams. He was an assistant coach at the 1994 U.S. Olympic Sports Festival in St. Louis, Mo.
DRAKE RECEIVING VOTES IN LATEST NSCAA NATIONAL POLL
For the second consecutive week, Drake is receiving votes in the latest National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) national poll after being ranked in the top-25 for three weeks.
BULLDOGS THIRD IN NSCAA MIDWEST REGION POLL
Drake fell one spot to No. 3 in the Midwest region as released by the NSCAA on Monday (Nov. 2). Tulsa is the regional leader, followed by Missouri State, Drake, UAB, Kentucky, Creighton, Evansville, Oakland, Marshall and Southern Methodist.
MISSOURI STATE DOWNS DRAKE IN OVERTIME, 3-2
SPRINGFIELD, MO. - Gerard Barbero's golden goal 21 seconds into overtime lifted MVC leader Missouri State to a 3-2 victory past Drake last Sunday (Nov. 1).
The Bulldogs rallied from a 2-0 deficit by collecting two goals in a 64-second span in the second half to tie the match after the Bears scored the first two goals in the affair.
Drake junior Kenan Malicevic (Cedar Rapids, Iowa/Cedar Valley) got behind the defense, beating Missouri State goalkeeper Alex Riggs in the 81st minute (80:31) to get the Bulldogs on the scoreboard. Junior Nick Foster (West Des Moines, Iowa/Valley) earned the assist on the tally.
Then Drake tied the score at the 81:35 mark, 2-2, capitalizing on a header by senior Garrett Webb (Prairie Village, Kan./Shawnee Mission East). The goal was Webb's team-leading fifth of the season.
Missouri State outshot Drake, 10-9. Malicevic led Drake with three shots, while three Bears posted two shots apiece.
Redshirt sophomore goalkeeper Jordan Kadlec (Hiawatha, Iowa/Cedar Rapids Kennedy) pulled in two saves for the Bulldogs, while Riggs recorded three stops.
BULLDOGS HOST SENIOR NIGHT AGAINST CREIGHTON
Drake will honor eight student-athletes playing in their final regular season home games prior to the Bulldogs' tilt with Creighton on Saturday (Nov. 7). Among those being honored are seniors Calvin Clark (Overland Park, Kan./St. Thomas Aquinas), Brian Wurst (Kansas City, Mo./Park Hill South), Julien Edwards (Ottawa, Ontario/De La Salle), Kevin Shrout (Lee's Summit, Mo./Lee's Summit), Luke Gorczyca (Overland Park, Kan./St. Thomas Aquinas), Webb and redshirt juniors Ted Schleisman (Verona, Wis./Middleton) and Tom Spiess (Roseville, Minn./Totino-Grace).
FOUR BULLDOGS EARN FIRST TEAM ACADEMIC ALL-DISTRICT HONORS
Drake men's soccer earned recognition for its efforts in the classroom as four Bulldogs were tabbed as first team CoSIDA ESPN The Magazine Academic All-America all-district VII selections.
Named to the first team to remain in contention for national Academic All-America laurels are junior Matt Kuhn (Raytown, Mo./Raytown South), Kevin Shrout, Calvin Clark and Brian Wurst.
To be nominated, a student-athlete must be a starter or important reserve with at least a 3.30 cumulative grade point average (on a 4.0 scale) at his/her current institution. Nominated athletes must have participated in at least 50 percent of the team's games at the position listed on the nomination form (where applicable).
An accounting major, Kuhn maintains a perfect 4.0 cumulative grade point average. He has started all 17 games for Drake and leads the team in assists (5) and game-winning goals (2).
A management and marketing major, Shrout, who was named to the Hermann Award Watch List, owns a 3.4 GPA. He has started all 16 games he has played in and leads the team in assists (5) and shots (32), while adding two goals.
Majoring in corporate finance, Clark boasts a 3.73 GPA. Starting all 17 games for Drake, Clark has recorded two goals and added an assist from his starting defender's slot. He is an anchor of a Bulldog defensive unit that has posted seven shutouts.
A management major, Wurst maintains a perfect 4.0 GPA. He has started all 17 games at his defender position for the Bulldogs, who have recorded seven shutouts this season.
MARCHING TOWARDS BULLDOG HISTORY
Garrett Webb has registered 23 goals in 73 career games, tied for sixth all-time at Drake. He is three goals from surpassing Andrew Guarneri (25/1991-93) for fifth place. Webb also ranks sixth in career points (61), seventh in shots (143) and eighth in assists (15) for the Bulldogs. Matt Kuhn sits fourth in career assists (17), while senior Kevin Shrout has recorded 134 career shots and is one shot behind Aaron Leventhal (135/1992-95) and Chuck Reid (135/1989-92) for ninth all-time, while ranking ninth in career assists (12). Redshirt junior goalkeeper Michael Drozd (Harwood Heights, Ill./Loyola Academy) ranks fifth, fifth, sixth and ninth, respectively, in wins (20), shutouts (10.0), game played (32) and saves (86).
STINGY DEFENSE
The Drake defensive backline of starters in Julien Edwards, Calvin Clark, Brian Wurst and Nick Foster has teamed with goalkeepers Michael Drozd and Jordan Kadlec to be one of the toughest teams in the MVC to score against through eight league contests. The unit has surrendered seven goals en route to posting three shutouts.
RAISING THE BAR
With the Bulldogs' 2-1 victory over Bradley on Oct. 28, the squad achieved double-figure wins in consecutive seasons for only the second time in school history and first since the 1987 and 1988 Drake teams won 11 and 10 games, respectively.
DEFENDING THY PITCH
Drake has done an outstanding job of defending its home turf in league contests as the Bulldogs own a 12-1-3 mark in their last 16 home MVC affairs. Drake's last league loss before falling to Missouri State, 2-1, on Oct. 17, came at home versus No. 7 Creighton on Oct. 23, 2004.
DRAKE EARNS FIRST-EVER VICTORY AT CREIGHTON
Sophomore Thomas Ostrander's (Fort Dodge, Iowa/St. Edmond Catholic) goal in the 48th minute (47:05) provided No. 19 Drake all the scoring it needed in a 1-0 victory over Creighton (Oct. 14) to earn the program's first-ever road victory against the Bluejays.
The win marked only the second triumph for Drake over Creighton, the preseason MVC favorite, in 27 meetings, and the first victory in Omaha in 15 games.
The setback dropped Creighton to 56-6-3 at home all-time in MVC play, including 21-3-2 at Morrison Stadium. The Bluejays had been 13-1-1 at home against nationally-ranked teams at Morrison Stadium before Drake's victory.
EARNING HIS POINT
Michael Drozd has been solid for the Bulldogs in net this season but his contributions have extended to the offensive end of the field as well. His booming leg has resulted in a pair of assists this season, including on Thomas Ostrander's game-winning goal with 1:37 left in regulation in a 1-0 victory over Evansville (Oct. 10). Drozd is believed to be the first Bulldog goalkeeper to register multiple assists in school history in a single season. He also added a helper on Matt Kuhn's game-winning tally versus Marquette.
OVER OUR LAST FIVE GAMES
The Bulldogs own a 2-3 mark in their last five contests, with three of the five occurring at home. Seven different Drake players have registered a goal, with Kenan Malicevic leading the way with two tallies. Malicevic and Matt Kuhn lead the team in scoring in that span with four points apiece. Malicevic paces Drake with eight shots, while Brian Wurst has gotten off seven shots from his defenders' slot. Michael Drozd and Jordan Kadlec have been peppered by 64 shots in that span in goal, and have recorded 16 saves.
BULLDOGS BITES
• Drake's 2-1 victory over Bradley (Oct. 28) marked the 175th in the coaching career of head coach Sean Holmes.
• Thomas Ostrander has turned in a strong league campaign for the Bulldogs, having netted a team-high three goals in eight games. His tally at Creighton gave the Bulldogs their first-ever victory at Creighton and only the second in series history.
• Drake has made a habit of attacking its league opponents early as the Bulldogs have outscored league opponents 7-3 in the first half.
• While the Bulldogs are tied with their opponents in shots in eight MVC contests, 110-110, Drake has made its shots count as the Bulldogs maintain a 47-31 advantage in shots on goal.
• Senior Calvin Clark and Kenan Malicevic were named to the all-tournament team at the Holiday Inn at the Plaza UMKC Invitational. Malicevic led the Bulldogs with a pair of goals and an assist on a team-high seven shots in two games, while Clark added a goal on two shots.
• As a team, Drake ranks 33rd, 44th and 58th, respectively, in the NCAA in scoring offense (1.76), shutout percentage (0.41) and winning percentage (.618), while Michael Drozd is rated 86th in goals against average (1.12).
• After registering five shutouts a year ago, Michael Drozd picked up where he left off last season, having pitched a shutouts against DePaul (2-0), Marquette (2-0), Western Illinois (1-0), Evansville (1-0) and Creighton (1-0), while sharing a combined shutout against Oral Roberts with Jordan Kadlec. Kadlec notched a shutout of his own in a 3-0 win versus Eastern Illinois (Oct. 21).
• Drozd also made his mark on Drake's 2-0 victory over the Golden Eagles by earning the assist on Matt Kuhn's game-winning goal.
• Kevin Shrout has converted both his penalty kicks this season against Marquette and Western Illinois.
• Webb turned in his third multi-goal game of his career with his two tallies against DePaul.
BULLDOGS DEFINE CHARACTER IN FACE OF ADVERSE CONDITIONS
In a testament to its character and credentials as a worthy NCAA Tournament team, Drake earned a 2-2 double-overtime tie at No. 17 Northwestern (Sept. 25) despite playing a man down for the final 31 minutes of regulation and overtime. The Bulldogs trailed in the contest, 2-1, with less than four minutes to play when Garrett Webb sent the game into overtime with the equalizer at the 86:30 mark. Drake had an opportunity to steal the victory in the second overtime as Calvin Clark's shot in the 107th minute (106:36) was corralled by Northwestern goalkeeper Jonathan Harris.
IN OUR LAST MEETINGS
Drake 3, Eastern Illinois 0 (Oct. 21, 2009)
DES MOINES, IOWA - No. 24 Drake garnered goals from three different players and overcame a persistent rainstorm to earn a 3-0 victory over Eastern Illinois at the Cownie Soccer Complex.
The Bulldogs broke into the scoring column first when Julien Edwards collected the ball off a corner kick from Matt Kuhn and found the back of the net with his shot for his first goal of the year at the 5:43 mark.
The lead swelled to 2-0 in the 35th minute (34:18) when sophomore Hunter Kennedy (Cedar Rapids, Iowa/Washington) deposited the ricochet off of junior Evan Harrison (Evansville, Ind./Reitz Memorial) shot that was deflected by Eastern Illinois goalkeeper Sean Molony into the goal for his second tally of the season.
Kuhn capped the scoring at the 78:22 mark with nearly an identical play to Kennedy's earlier tally as he converted the rebound on redshirt junior Ted Schleisman's (Verona, Wis./Middleton) for his fourth goal of the year.
Making his first start of the season, Jordan Kadlec was stellar pulling in four saves en route to Drake's seventh shutout of the season.
The Bulldogs had several other point-blank opportunities to cash in goals in the affair but weren't able to convert in the slick field conditions.
Drake outshot Eastern Illinois in the affair, 19-12, with the Bulldogs receiving three shots apiece from Kuhn, Schleisman, Harrison and Kenan Malicevic. Mike Picinich paced the Panthers with a game-high four shots.
Drake 1, Creighton 0 (Oct. 14, 2009)
OMAHA, NEB. - Thomas Ostrander's goal in the 48th minute (47:05) provided No. 19 Drake all the scoring it needed as the Bulldogs notched a 1-0 victory over Creighton to earn the program's first-ever road victory against the Bluejays.
The win marked only the second triumph for Drake over Creighton, the preseason MVC favorite, in 27 meetings, and the first victory in Omaha in 15 games.
Playing in a steady rain throughout the game, the two sides played a tightly fought affair in the first half with the Bluejays edging the Bulldogs in shots, 8-5.
Ostrander put Drake on the board in the 48th minute (47:05) on a header off the defender from a crossing pass by Garrett Webb. The goal was the third of the season for Ostrander and second consecutive game-winner.
The Bulldog's defensive unit again persevered buckling down in the final 45 minutes to collect Drake's third consecutive shutout, despite being outshot, 11-2. Michael Drozd spearheaded that effort pulling in three saves on the night.
Webb and Kevin Shrout paced the Drake attack with two shots apiece, while Creighton was directed by a five-shot effort from Jeff Thayer.
WEBB AND SHROUT NAMED TO HERMANN WATCH LIST
Drake men's soccer seniors Garrett Webb and Kevin Shrout were among those named to the Missouri Athletic Club's Hermann Trophy Watch List, considered the highest individual honor in intercollegiate soccer.
They became the first Drake players to be named to the list in program history, placing them among 38 Division I student-athletes that comprise the 2009 Watch List. Drake was one of five schools nationally to place two student-athletes on this prestigious list, joining Monmouth, Tulsa, UCLA and Wake Forest. Only Creighton and Loyola of Maryland had more nominees with three apiece.
The recipients of the MAC's Hermann Trophy are selected by Division I head coaches who are current members of the NSCAA. Fifteen semifinalists are to be selected by a coaches committee in November, with three finalists announced in early December. The finalists will be invited to the Missouri Athletic Club in St. Louis, Mo., for a news conference on Jan. 8, 2010, where the winner will be announced with a presentation banquet following.
HERMANN AWARD UPDATE
Garrett Webb and Kevin Shrout, Drake's Hermann Award candidates, continue to shine for the Bulldogs this season.
Garrett Webb
2009 - Has started all 16 games he has played in and leads the Bulldogs in goals (5), points (14) and shots on goal (15), while ranking second in shots (32) and game-winners (1)...scored game-tying goal that forced overtime at No. 25 Missouri State...credited with assist on Thomas Ostrander's game-winning goal to provide Drake with a 1-0 victory at Creighton, its first-ever win on the Bluejays' home field and only the second in series history...earned assist on Ostrander's game-winning goal with 1:37 left in regulation in a 1-0 victory over Evansville, who came into the game as the top-scoring unit in the MVC...added an assist in a 3-1 road victory at Bradley, Drake's first win on the Braves' home field since 2002...registered a game-tying goal and an assist in the Bulldogs' 2-2 double-overtime tie at No.17 Northwestern...netted both goals in Drake's 2-0 season-opening victory over DePaul...accounted for the Bulldogs' lone tally against No. 22 Michigan...owns the top individual game marks for Drake in goals (2), while recording a team season-best five shots in a 2-1 win at UAB...ranks third in the MVC in goals per game (0.31), fifth in points per game (0.88) and 10th in shots per contest (2.00).
Kevin Shrout
2009 - Has started all 16 contests for Drake in which he has played and leads the team in shots (33) and assists (5)...collected assist on Thomas Ostrander's goal against Missouri State...registered game-winning tally on a second-half penalty kick at Western Illinois in a 1-0 Bulldog victory, their first over the Leathernecks since 2003...named MVC Defensive Player of the Week (Oct. 5)...recorded pair of assists from his defender's slot in a 3-1 road victory at Bradley, Drake's first win on the Braves' home field since 2002...first goal of the season came after he converted a successful penalty kick versus Marquette...registered a team season-high five shots against No. 22 Michigan...added four shots in a 2-0 victory over Marquette...ranks fifth in the MVC in assists (0.31) and eighth in shots (2.06) per game.
WINS VERSUS LOSSES
In their 10 victories this season, the Bulldogs are averaging 14.7 shots, 5.2 corner kicks and 2.9 saves, while their opponents garner 11.0 shots, 5.4 corner kicks and 4.0 saves. In its six setbacks, Drake is recording 14.2 shots, 6.3 corners and 2.2 saves, while seeing the opposition average 11.7 shots, 3.7 corners and 4.8 saves per game.
UP NEXT
Drake hosts the State Farm Missouri Valley Conference Championship (Nov. 13-15) at the Cownie Soccer Complex. Semifinal game times are slated for 3:30 p.m. and 6:00 p.m. with the top-four teams qualifying.
