Des Moines, IA – Despite a career-high eight saves from goalkeeper Audrey Brown, Illinois State soccer fell on the road 2-0 to Drake (2-6-4, 1-1-2 MVC) Thursday night. The Bulldogs scored a pair of second-half goals to pull away from Illinois State after the break.
The Redbirds (2-10-0, 0-4-0 MVC) dropped the contest despite a strong offensive performance in the first half. Illinois State recorded eight of their 10 shots in the first half of play and went into halftime with strong momentum. The Redbirds maintained steady possession over the final stretch of the first half.
Allison Baker opened scoring opportunities with a breakaway chance in the 14th minute. She fired far side but Vianey Lopez made the save for Drake.
Baker finished the night with several big scoring opportunities for Illinois State. She put another chance on frame in the 31st minute as she pulled from outside the box. Baker also hit the crossbar off a chance from distance in the 64th minute.
Brown, who recorded six of her eight saves in the second half, busted out of the break with four straight saves, including a big stop of a straight-away chance from outside the box in the 50th minute.
Illinois State struggled with offensive opportunities in the second half as Drake maintained strong possession. The Drake offensive attack was too much and the Bulldogs ultimately struck in the 54th minute off a tally from Grace Smith. Meghan Brown capped off the night for Drake with a goal in the 66th minute for a 2-0 final score.
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The Redbirds host Belmont Sunday at Noon CT on ESPN3.
