The SIUE women's soccer squad entered its 2026 campaign with optimism, but the first setback arrived on a crisp evening in Des Moines, where Drake University posted a 3-0 victory.
Early breakthrough for the Bulldogs
Alexa Aylward broke the deadlock in the 35th minute, scoring her second goal of the season and giving Drake an early lead that set the tone for the match.
Angela Gutierrez, the SIUE forward, responded after halftime with two goals of her own, bringing her season total to five, though the effort could not overturn the deficit.
Dominant performance by Drake
Statistically, Drake controlled possession, outshot SIUE 9-1 and limited the Cougars to a single attempt on goal, while goalkeeper Claire Nieroda faced just one shot.
In net, Kate Hopma and Addie Ford split duties for the Bulldogs, each contributing to the clean sheet, as Sarah Bozeman made two saves for SIUE.
Looking ahead to Indiana State
The loss drops the Cougars to 2-1-2, while the Bulldogs climb to 4-2, setting the stage for a non-conference showdown with Indiana State scheduled for the following Sunday at 1 p.m.