Marquette Falls At No. 21 Drake

Sunday, September 6

Des Moines, Iowa

7:00 PM

Marquette University

1-1

Drake

2-1

Marquette

Drake

9/6/2009 12:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer

Box Score

Sept. 6, 2009

Box Score (html) | NCAA Box Score (PDF)

DES MOINES, Iowa -- Nationally ranked Drake (2-1) used a pair of second half goals to hand the Marquette University men's soccer team its first loss of the 2009 season Sunday with a 2-0 decision over the Golden Eagles (1-1) at Cownie Soccer Stadium.

Drake, which entered the non-conference contest ranked No. 21 in the nation according to the College Soccer News preseason Top-30 poll, controlled possession for most of evening. But it wasn't until midway through the second half when the Bulldogs were able to break through.

Senior goalkeeper Matt Pyzdrowski was busy early on as the Bulldogs had some early opportunities off of set pieces. Drake used five corner kicks in the first five minutes of action to put three shots on target.

Another Bulldog set piece proved dangerous for the Golden Eagles' when Ted Schleisman's free kick from 23 yards out curled off the near post.

Although their scoring opportunities were not as plenty in the first 45 minutes of action, sophomore midfielder Calum Mallace gave the Golden Eagles two exciting chances with a pair long-range rockets -- one that hit the left post from 30 yards out and another strike that deflected off the Drake keeper from roughly the same distance.

"Matt Pyzdrowski was our best player, so that was an indication as to how the game went for us," said Marquette head coach Louis Bennett. "Despite Drake's first half dominance, Calum Mallace actually came as close as any one of their chances. In the end, I think it was a fair result."

The second half was more of the same as the Bulldogs used ball possession to create more opportunities. But it wasn't until the 64th minute that Drake was finally able to get on the scoreboard when keeper Michael Drozd punted the ball forward to Matt Kuhn who settled the long pass, beat one MU defender and placed a near perfect finish into the top-left corner of the net.

Moments later the Bulldogs were awarded a penalty kick after a Marquette defender was whistled for a foul in the box. Drake's Kevin Shrout capitalized by putting it past a diving Pyzdrowski inside the right post to give his team a 2-0 lead at 67:59.

Pyzdrowski made five saves on the night as Drake out-shot the Golden Eagles 13-6. Meanwhile, Marquette managed just one shot on goal.

MU returns to action next weekend to host the Marquette Invitational at Valley Fields. Action kicks off at 5 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 11, when UC Irvine is scheduled to face DePaul. Marquette will then take on Buffalo at 7:05 p.m.