{{Short description|American college soccer team}} {{Use mdy dates|date=May 2025}} {{Infobox college soccer team |name = Drake Bulldogs men's soccer |logo = Drake Bulldogs "D" logo.svg |logo_size = 100 |university = Drake University |conference = Missouri Valley Conference |founded = {{start date and age|1986}} |conference_short = Missouri Valley |city = Des Moines |stateabb = IA |state = Iowa |coach = Pat Flinn |tenure =4th |stadium = Mediacom Stadium |capacity =4,000 |nickname = Bulldogs <!-- home kit --> | pattern_la1 = _blueborder | pattern_b1 = _bluecollar | pattern_ra1 = _blueborder | pattern_sh1 = | pattern_so1 = _color_3_stripes_blue | leftarm1 = ffffff | body1 = ffffff | rightarm1 = ffffff | shorts1 = ffffff | socks1 = ffffff <!-- away kit --> | pattern_la2 = _white_hoop | pattern_b2 = _whitecollar | pattern_ra2 = _white_hoop | pattern_sh2 = | pattern_so2 = _color_3_stripes_white | leftarm2 = 000099 | body2 = 000099 | rightarm2 = 000099 | shorts2 = 000099 | socks2 = 000099
|NCAAchampion = |NCAArunnerup = |NCAAcollegecup = |NCAAeliteeight = 2009 |NCAAtourneys = 2008, 2009, 2015 |conference_tournament = 2009, 2015 |conference_season = 2025 }} The '''Drake Bulldogs men's soccer team''' represent Drake University in the Missouri Valley Conference of NCAA Division I soccer.<ref name="yearbook">[http://www.godrakebulldogs.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=15700&KEY=&ATCLID=1566432&SPID=8125&SPSID=71194 "2009 Drake Men's Soccer Yearbook." ] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110724134756/http://www.godrakebulldogs.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=15700&KEY=&ATCLID=1566432&SPID=8125&SPSID=71194 |date=July 24, 2011 }} ''godrakebulldogs.com.'' Retrieved on November 23, 2009.</ref> The team plays its home matches at Cownie Sports Complex on the south side of Des Moines, Iowa.
==History== The Drake program began in 1986. Under coach Bob Wood, the Bulldogs would compile a 16–16 record over two seasons as an independent before joining the Big Central Soccer Conference for the 1988 season. After a three-year run in the BCSC saw Drake post a collective 29–25–4 record (8–7–3 in conference), the Bulldogs would join their traditional sporting conference, the Missouri Valley Conference, for the 1991 season.
Upon joining the MVC, the Bulldogs went 6–10–0 (1–2–0) in 1991 season and 6–12–2 (2–2–1) in 1992. The Bulldogs would bounce back to post three consecutive winning seasons for the first time in school history from 1993 to 1995 (including a record-best 4–2–0 mark in 1994 MVC play). During his final seasons, Wood's teams totaled a combined 14–21–1 record in 1996–1997.
For the 1998 season, Drake hired Swiss-born Canadian, 32-year-old Evansville assistant Sean Holmes. In 1998, the Bulldogs earned a 6–11–1 mark. In 1999, Drake went 4–13–1 (1–5–1).
For the 2003 season, the Bulldogs moved from the larger Drake Stadium into the more-intimate off-campus Cownie Sports Complex, and Holmes began to turn the program around, guiding the Bulldogs to a fourth-place finish in the conference, good enough to host a quarterfinal match in the conference tournament. The 2003 squad achieved the first top 25 ranking in the program's history. The 2004 squad would begin the season ranked for the first time in school history, and the 2005 season saw victories over three ranked opponents, including a win over then-sixteenth-ranked Creighton for the first time in school history.<ref name="cuwin">[http://www.godrakebulldogs.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=71193&SPID=8125&DB_OEM_ID=15700&ATCLID=862519 "Baker's Hat Trick Gives Men's Soccer First Win Over Creighton."] ''godrakebulldogs.com.'' Retrieved on November 23, 2009.</ref>
In 2008, Holmes' Drake squad had a breakout season. Drake would win a school-record 13 matches (against 5 losses and 1 draw) and earned an NCAA Tournament berth for the first time. Drawn into the Queens, New York region of the bracket, the Bulldogs would battle hard at Saint Louis before falling on a goal just 4.1 seconds away from penalty kicks.<ref name="slurecap">[http://www.godrakebulldogs.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=71193&SPID=8125&DB_OEM_ID=15700&ATCLID=3621026 "Last Second Goal Ends Men's Soccer Season ."] ''godrakebulldogs.com.'' Retrieved on November 23, 2009.</ref>
The 2009 season saw Holmes' team take the program to new heights. Hosting the Missouri Valley Conference tournament after finishing second in the regular season, the Bulldogs edged third-seeded Creighton, 2–1, before defeating fourth-seeded Evansville, 2–1, to win the school's first-ever conference tournament title<ref name="mvctitle">[http://www.timesdelphic.com/2009/11/15/drake-bests-evansville-for-mvc-title/ "Drake bests Evansville for MVC title."] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120229001910/http://timesdelphic.com/2009/11/15/drake-bests-evansville-for-mvc-title |date=2012-02-29 }} ''timesdelphic.com.'' Retrieved on December 10, 2009.</ref> and clinching their second consecutive College Cup appearance. In the tournament, the Bulldogs would earn their first-ever NCAA victory with a 2–1 win over Western Illinois<ref name="wiurecap">[http://www.topdrawersoccer.com/content/nid-13831/Drake-men-beat-Western-Illinois-in-NCAA-1st-round "Drake men beat Western Illinois in NCAA 1st round."] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110724015744/http://www.topdrawersoccer.com/content/nid-13831/Drake-men-beat-Western-Illinois-in-NCAA-1st-round |date=July 24, 2011 }} ''topdrawersoccer.com.'' Retrieved on December 10, 2009.</ref> and then stunned fourth-seeded Ohio State 1–0 to advance to the Sweet 16<ref name="osurecap">[http://www.ohiostatebuckeyes.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=17300&ATCLID=204838659 "Ohio State Ends Season with Overtime Loss to Drake, 1–0, in NCAA Second Round."]{{dead link|date=December 2016 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} ''ohiostatebuckeyes.com.'' Retrieved on December 10, 2009.</ref> In the Sweet 16, after falling behind 2–0, the Bulldogs rallied to a stunning 6–4 win at Boston College<ref name="bcrecap">[http://www.godrakebulldogs.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=71193&SPID=8125&DB_OEM_ID=15700&ATCLID=3621026 "Drake Takes Down Boston College In 6–4 Barnburner."] ''ncaa.com.'' Retrieved on December 10, 2009.</ref> before falling in a 2–1 heartbreaker to No. 5 North Carolina in the national quarterfinals.<ref name="uncrecap">[http://www.desmoinesregister.com/article/20091204/SPORTS0204/91204038/1097/SPORTS/Drake-s-men-s-soccer-NCAA-run-ends-with-loss-to-North-Carolina "Drake's men's soccer NCAA run ends with loss to North Carolina."]{{dead link|date=December 2016 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} ''dmregister.com.'' Retrieved on December 10, 2009.</ref>
Hours before the start of the 2015 season, Drake announced that assistant Gareth Smith would replace 17-year head coach Holmes to become interim head coach.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/sports/college/drake/drake-bulldogs/2015/08/28/drake-soccer-coach-fired-sean-holmes/71350290/ |title=Drake changes soccer coaches hours before season opener |publisher=The Des Moines Register |date=November 4, 2015 |access-date=August 28, 2015}}</ref> Smith was promoted to head coach after Drake finished third in the MVC regular season. The third seeded Bulldogs then won three consecutive matches in the conference tournament to earn the conference's automatic bid to the 2015 NCAA Division I Men's Soccer Championship. In the tournament, the Bulldogs knocked of No. 17 Kentucky 2–1 in the first round before falling to former MVC member Creighton in the second round.
==All-time record==
===Seasons=== {{CBB Yearly Record Start |type = team |conference = |postseason = |poll = both |poll1 = AP |poll2 = Coaches }} {{CBB Yearly Record Subhead |name=Drake |startyear=1986 |conference=Independent |endyear=1987 |}} {{CBB Yearly Record Entry | championship = | season = 1986 | name = Bob Wood | overall = 5–10–0 | conference = | confstanding = | postseason = | ranking = | ranking2 = }} {{CBB Yearly Record Entry | championship = | season = 1987 | name = Bob Wood | overall = 11–6–0 | conference = | confstanding = | postseason = | ranking = | ranking2 = }} {{CBB Yearly Record Subhead |name=Drake |startyear=1988 |conference=Big Central Soccer Conference |endyear=1990 |}} {{CBB Yearly Record Entry | championship = | season = 1988 | name = Bob Wood | overall = 10–7–4 | conference = 2–2–2 | confstanding = 5th | postseason = | ranking = | ranking2 = }} {{CBB Yearly Record Entry | championship = | season = 1989 | name = Bob Wood | overall = 9–10–0 | conference = 2–4–0 | confstanding = 6th | postseason = | ranking = | ranking2 = }} {{CBB Yearly Record Entry | championship = | season = 1990 | name = Bob Wood | overall = 10–8–4 | conference = 4–1–1 | confstanding = 3rd | postseason = | ranking = | ranking2 = }} {{CBB Yearly Record Subhead |name=Drake |startyear=1991 |conference=Missouri Valley Conference |endyear= |}} {{CBB Yearly Record Entry | championship = | season = 1991 | name = Bob Wood | overall = 6–10–0 | conference = 1–2–0 | confstanding = T–4th | postseason = | ranking = | ranking2 = }} {{CBB Yearly Record Entry | championship = | season = 1992 | name = Bob Wood | overall = 6–12–2 | conference = 2–2–1 | confstanding = 4th | postseason = | ranking = | ranking2 = }} {{CBB Yearly Record Entry | championship = | season = 1993 | name = Bob Wood | overall = 11–5–1 | conference = 1–3–1 | confstanding = 4th | postseason = | ranking = | ranking2 = }} {{CBB Yearly Record Entry | championship = | season = 1994 | name = Bob Wood | overall = 9–8–0 | conference = 4–2–0 | confstanding = T–2nd | postseason = | ranking = | ranking2 = }} {{CBB Yearly Record Entry | championship = | season = 1995 | name = Bob Wood | overall = 8–5–3 | conference = 1–3–1 | confstanding = 5th | postseason = | ranking = | ranking2 = }} {{CBB Yearly Record Entry | championship = | season = 1996 | name = Bob Wood | overall = 6–11–0 | conference = 2–3–0 | confstanding = 4th | postseason = | ranking = | ranking2 = }} {{CBB Yearly Record Entry | championship = | season = 1997 | name = Bob Wood | overall = 8–10–1 | conference = 2–4–1 | confstanding = 6th | postseason = | ranking = | ranking2 = }} {{CBB Yearly Record Entry | championship = | season = 1998 | name = Sean Holmes | overall = 6–11–1 | conference = 1–5–1 | confstanding = 8th | postseason = | ranking = | ranking2 = }} {{CBB Yearly Record Entry | championship = | season = 1999 | name = Sean Holmes | overall = 4–13–1 | conference = 1–5–1 | confstanding = 7th | postseason = | ranking = | ranking2 = }} {{CBB Yearly Record Entry | championship = | season = 2000 | name = Sean Holmes | overall = 7–12–0 | conference = 4–7–0 | confstanding = 9th | postseason = | ranking = | ranking2 = }} {{CBB Yearly Record Entry | championship = | season = 2001 | name = Sean Holmes | overall = 6–10–1 | conference = 1–8–0 | confstanding = 10th | postseason = | ranking = | ranking2 = }} {{CBB Yearly Record Entry | championship = | season = 2002 | name = Sean Holmes | overall = 9–7–2 | conference = 5–2–2 | confstanding = 4th | postseason = | ranking = | ranking2 = }} {{CBB Yearly Record Entry | championship = | season = 2003 | name = Sean Holmes | overall = 10–6–3 | conference = 4–3–2 | confstanding = 5th | postseason = | ranking = | ranking2 = }} {{CBB Yearly Record Entry | championship = | season = 2004 | name = Sean Holmes | overall = 8–9–1 | conference = 4–4–1 | confstanding = T–5th | postseason = | ranking = | ranking2 = }} {{CBB Yearly Record Entry | championship = | season = 2005 | name = Sean Holmes | overall = 9–9–2 | conference = 4–2–1 | confstanding = T–3rd | postseason = | ranking = | ranking2 = }} {{CBB Yearly Record Entry | championship = | season = 2006 | name = Sean Holmes | overall = 6–7–6 | conference = 2–1–3 | confstanding = 4th | postseason = | ranking = | ranking2 = }} {{CBB Yearly Record Entry | championship = | season = 2007 | name = Sean Holmes | overall = 9–6–4 | conference = 2–2–2 | confstanding = 4th | postseason = | ranking = | ranking2 = }} {{CBB Yearly Record Entry | championship = | season = 2008 | name = Sean Holmes | overall = 13–5–1 | conference = 4–1–0 | confstanding = 2nd | postseason = NCAA First Round | ranking = | ranking2 = }} {{CBB Yearly Record Entry | championship = conference tournament | season = 2009 | name = Sean Holmes | overall = 16–7–2 | conference = 6–3–1 | confstanding = 2nd | postseason = NCAA Elite Eight | ranking = | ranking2 = }} {{CBB Yearly Record Entry | championship = | season = 2010 | name = Sean Holmes | overall = 8–8–2 | conference = 4–2–1 | confstanding = 4th | postseason = | ranking = | ranking2 = }} {{CBB Yearly Record Entry | championship = | season = 2011 | name = Sean Holmes | overall = 11–8–1 | conference = 3–3–0 | confstanding = 4th | postseason = | ranking = | ranking2 = }} {{CBB Yearly Record Entry | championship = | season = 2012 | name = Sean Holmes | overall = 6–11–4 | conference = 2–2–2 | confstanding = 5th | postseason = | ranking = | ranking2 = }} {{CBB Yearly Record Entry | championship = | season = 2013 | name = Sean Holmes | overall = 8–8–4 | conference = 3–1–2 | confstanding = 2nd | postseason = | ranking = | ranking2 = }} {{CBB Yearly Record Entry | championship = | season = 2014 | name = Sean Holmes | overall = 5–11–3 | conference = 3–3–0 | confstanding = 4th | postseason = | ranking = | ranking2 = }} {{CBB Yearly Record Entry | championship =conference tournament | season = 2015 | name = Gareth Smith | overall = 12–5–3 | conference = 3–1–2 | confstanding = 3rd | postseason = NCAA 2nd Round | ranking = | ranking2 = }} {{CBB Yearly Record Entry | championship = | season = 2016 | name = Gareth Smith | overall = 6–12–1 | conference = 2–5–1 | confstanding = 6th | postseason = | ranking = | ranking2 = }} {{CBB Yearly Record Entry | championship = | season = 2017 | name = Gareth Smith | overall = 6–11–2 | conference = 2–4–2 | confstanding = 6th | postseason = | ranking = | ranking2 = }}{{CBB Yearly Record Entry | championship = | season = 2018 | name = Gareth Smith | overall = 7–7–3 | conference = 1–3–2 | confstanding = 5th | postseason = | ranking = | ranking2 = }} {{CBB Yearly Record Entry | championship = | season = 2019 | name = Gareth Smith | overall = 8–9–1 | conference = 4–5–1 | confstanding = 4th | postseason = | ranking = | ranking2 = }} {{CBB Yearly Record Entry | championship = | season = 2020–21 | name = Gareth Smith | overall = 5–3–1 | conference = 5–2–1 | confstanding = 2nd | postseason = | ranking = | ranking2 = }} {{CBB Yearly Record Entry | championship = | season = 2021 | name = Gareth Smith | overall = 6–9–0 | conference = 3–7–0 | confstanding = T–5th | postseason = | ranking = | ranking2 = }} {{CBB Yearly Record Entry | championship = | season = 2022 | name = Pat Flinn | overall = 7–4–5 | conference = 5–2–1 | confstanding = 2nd | postseason = | ranking = | ranking2 = }} {{CBB Yearly Record Entry | championship = | season = 2023 | name = Pat Flinn | overall = 3–10–3 | conference = 1–6–1 | confstanding = T–8th | postseason = | ranking = | ranking2 = }} {{CBB Yearly Record Entry | championship = | season = 2024 | name = Pat Flinn | overall = 9–5–3 | conference = 5–1–2 | confstanding = 2nd | postseason = | ranking = | ranking2 = }} {{CBB Yearly Record End | overall = 309–325–85 | conference = 100–111–38 | poll = | polltype = | polltype2 = | legend = yes | cbb_c1 = | cbb_c2 = | cbb_c3 = }}
==Notable former players== The players in '''bold''' have senior international caps.
* '''{{flagicon|VIN}} Ezra Hendrickson''' featured for six different Major League Soccer (MLS) clubs, was a three-time MLS Cup winner (2002, 2004, 2008), and earned 123 international appearances with Saint Vincent and the Grenadines<ref name="ezrahendrickson">[http://www.godrakebulldogs.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=15700&ATCLID=3623774 "Former Drake Soccer Player Earns Third Career MLS Championship."] ''godrakebulldogs.com.'' Retrieved on November 23, 2009.</ref> before serving as an assistant coach with several MLS clubs * {{flagicon|USA}} Aaron Leventhal played for the Minnesota Thunder of the USL A-League from 1995 to 2001<ref name="thunder">[http://www.iowasoccer.org/userfiles/file/HOF-LeventhalA.pdf "IowaSoccer"]{{dead link|date=December 2016 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} ''IowaSoccer.org.'' Retrieved on January 17, 2012.</ref> * {{flagicon|USA}} Kirk Wilson was selected in the first round of the 1999 MLS Supplemental Draft and played for the Dallas Burn of Major League Soccer and the El Paso Patriots, Rochester Raging Rhinos, and Impact de Montreal of the USL A-League and USL First Division<ref name="menacealumni"/> * {{flagicon|USA}} Matt Nickell was selected in the first round of the 2005 MLS Supplemental Draft and made seven appearances with D.C. United from 2005 to 2006<ref name="menacealumni">[http://menacesoccer.com/team/alumni/# "MenaceAlumni"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091005005248/http://menacesoccer.com/team/alumni/ |date=October 5, 2009 }} ''menacesoccer.com.'' Retrieved on November 23, 2009.</ref> * {{flagicon|USA}} Jesse Baker played for the Minnesota Thunder of the USL First Division in 2006<ref name="menacealumni"/> * {{flagicon|USA}} Corey Farabi was selected by the Kansas City Wizards in the third round of the 2006 MLS Supplemental Draft and made several reserve appearances with the club<ref name="menacealumni"/> * {{flagicon|USA}} Chris Hamburger was selected by the Kansas City Wizards in the fourth round of the 2006 MLS Supplemental Draft<ref name="menacealumni"/> * {{flagicon|USA}} Garrett Webb played for Capital City F.C. of the Canadian Soccer League in 2011.<ref name="menacealumni"/> * {{flagicon|GUY}} Julien Edwards played for Capital City F.C. of the Canadian Soccer League in 2011 and was called up by Guyana for World Cup qualifying<ref name="guyana">[http://www.kaieteurnewsonline.com/2011/11/02/another-twin-tower-to-descend-on-november-11/ "Guyana"] ''kaieteurnewsonline.com.'' Retrieved on January 17, 2012.</ref> * {{flagicon|ALB}} Besmir Bega played for KF Tirana and Partizani Tirana of the Albanian Superliga in 2008–09.{{citation needed|date=April 2025}} * {{flagicon|USA}} Matt Kuhn was selected by D.C. United in the fourth round of the 2012 MLS Supplemental Draft<ref name="2012draft">[http://www.godrakebulldogs.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=15700&ATCLID=205363510 "Kuhn Selected By D.C. United In MLS Supplemental Draft."] ''godrakebulldogs.com.'' Retrieved on January 17, 2012.</ref> * {{flagicon|CAN}} Darrin MacLeod currently plays for North Carolina FC * {{flagicon|USA}} Steven Enna currently plays for FC Fredericia in Denmark
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== * {{official website}}
{{Drake University}} {{Missouri Valley Conference men's soccer navbox}}
Category:Drake Bulldogs men's soccer Category:1986 establishments in Iowa Category:Association football clubs established in 1986