Photo: Joel Venzke
The Drake women’s soccer team stretched its unbeaten streak to nine on Thursday thanks to a 1-1 double-overtime tie against in-state rival Northern Iowa in Cedar Falls.
Northern Iowa opened play with an offensive bang as senior Kiki McClellan scored at the 5:00 mark.
Drake head coach Lindsey Horner expected a dangerous Panthers squad.
“UNI was up for a battle tonight, and while we prepared all week for our players to come out and match the energy level, we found ourselves on our heels and down a goal,” Horner said in a Drake athletics press release. “We knew this would be a tight game especially if we struggled to compete in the air, came out flat or gave them opportunities in restarts, unfortunately each of which we did.”
Senior forward Laura Moklestad likewise anticipated a tough Panthers team.
“We knew that they were going to come out just ready to go,” she said. “They’re our rival, so they were just really wanting to beat us, so I think that just kind of put something under us. They had to be better and more urgent, and they had to take care of the ball. We countered quickly after that.”
Less than one minute later, Drake answered with a goal, but officials were unsure which Bulldog scored.
The Missouri Valley Conference rivals traded possession to complete Thursday’s 1-1 tie, snapping Drake’s eight-game winning streak.
Though Drake’s winning streak ended, Moklestad stressed the tie’s importance entering the State Farm MVC Championship.
“It was really important, especially it being in our conference,” she said. “We wanted to make sure we got at least one point out of that game because it gives us a better spot to be in the tournament. So, we just went into that game knowing that we either had to tie or win. Our team decided that losing wasn’t an option.”
Junior forward Generve Charles led the Bulldogs with three shots.
Junior goalkeeper Kalena Litch paced Drake’s defense with six saves.
The Bulldogs are back in action against Western Illinois at 3:30 p.m. on Wednesday in Macomb, Ill.
