DES MOINES, Iowa — Drake broke through in the 48th minute to secure a 1-0 victory over Southern Illinois on Thursday night, keeping the Bulldogs' tournament hopes alive in the Missouri Valley Conference. Claire Emmerich's goal, set up by Eve Blakey and Angela Gutierrez, proved to be the difference in a tightly contested matchup between two NCAA Division I tournament contenders. The win improved Drake to 9-5-4 overall while Southern Illinois fell to 10-5-3, with both teams now focused on the MVC Championship picture.
Emmerich's decisive strike came early in the second half, capitalizing on Drake's attacking pressure that had built throughout the first 45 minutes. The goal came at a crucial moment, just as the second half was gaining momentum. Southern Illinois had its chances to equalize, particularly through Dory Latenser and Olivia Anderson, but Drake's defense held firm when it mattered most. The Salukis mounted several late-game efforts to find the equalizer, but Drake goalkeeper kept the clean sheet intact.
The first half was a chess match between two evenly matched squads. Drake dominated possession in stretches, with Izzy Snowden and Layla Kelbel creating problems for the Southern Illinois backline. Kelbel had two quality chances that sailed just wide of the target in the 7th and 13th minutes. Southern Illinois countered with efforts from Nao Katamoto and Latenser, but neither side could break the deadlock before intermission. Both teams generated corner kick opportunities—Drake earned six compared to Southern Illinois' three—but neither could convert the set-piece chances into goals.
Drake came out of halftime with renewed intensity, and that aggression paid immediate dividends. The Bulldogs' attacking movement in the opening minutes of the second half created the space Emmerich needed to finish. After the breakthrough, Southern Illinois pressed forward in search of an equalizer, forcing Drake to defend deeper. The Salukis had several shooting opportunities, including efforts from Latenser and Guliana Balistreri, but Drake's defensive organization prevented any clear-cut chances.
The statistics told the story of a competitive encounter. Drake finished with 15 shot attempts to Southern Illinois' 12, while both teams managed five shots on goal. Drake's goalkeeper made five saves, while Southern Illinois' keeper recorded four. The Bulldogs' advantage in corner kicks—six to three—reflected their sustained pressure, particularly in the second half. A yellow card to Ivy Sobel for time-wasting in the 90th minute was the only disciplinary action of the match.
Emmerich's finishing prowess was on full display, converting the opportunity that would ultimately decide the contest. Blakey and Gutierrez's supporting play in the build-up showcased Drake's ability to create chances through combination play. For Southern Illinois, Latenser's tireless work rate and Anderson's defensive contributions kept the Salukis competitive throughout, but they couldn't find the breakthrough needed to salvage a point.
The victory extends Drake's recent form, following a 1-0 win over Evansville on Sunday. Southern Illinois, meanwhile, suffered back-to-back losses after defeating UNI 3-2 on October 26th. Both teams remain in contention for the MVC Championship, with tournament seeding implications still very much in play heading into the final stretch of the regular season.
Drake will face the winner of the Southern Illinois-Illinois State matchup in the 2025 WSO MVC Championship on November 6th, while Southern Illinois travels to Illinois State on November 2nd. The Salukis will look to bounce back quickly and secure their NCAA Tournament resume with a strong finish to the conference schedule.