Valpo soccer senior Molly O'Rear (Naperville, Ill./Naperville Central) leveled the Beacons' Missouri Valley Conference opener at Drake with a goal in the 12^th minute, but the Bulldogs — MVC preseason favorites — pulled away for a 5-1 victory.
 
How It Happened

• Drake struck in the fourth minute for the match's opening goal.
• The Beacons hit back less than eight minutes later to tie things up. Junior Daisy Boardman (Warrington, England/Bridgwater) won an interception in the attacking third and fought her way to the end line. Boardman's cross into the box was parried away by Drake's goalkeeper, but right into the path of O'Rear, who hit it first time into the goal to make it a 1-1 game.
• The Bulldogs responded with goals in the 20^th and 23^rd minutes to take a 3-1 lead into halftime, and then added to their lead with goals in the 49^th and 73^rd minutes in the second half.

 
Inside the Match

• O'Rear's goal was her third of the season, but her first in the run of play. She now has nine points this year, having been involved with three assists as well.
• Boardman's assist on the Beacons' goal was her second of the year.
• Drake held a 22-6 advantage in shot attempts and put 16 of its efforts on frame. Kate Sheridan (Grand Rapids, Mich./East Grand Rapids) made four saves, while Saki Tsuchiya (Takasaki, Japan/Kaishi Gakuen [Tyler J.C.]) stopped seven of the nine shots on frame she faced.

 
Next Up
Valpo (3-5-1, 0-1-0 MVC) returns home to Brown Field for the first time in three and a half weeks on Thursday night as the Beacons host Illinois State at 7 p.m.