DES MOINES, Iowa – The University of Evansville men’s soccer team played to a 2-2 tie with host Drake Saturday night in Des Moines, Iowa.  The draw was the first of the season for the Purple Aces, who are now 9-6-1 overall and 3-1-1 in the Missouri Valley Conference.
 
Evansville (9-6-1, 3-1-1 MVC) led twice in the contest, but Drake (4-10-4, 1-2-2 MVC) countered both times, including on a goal just before the halftime whistle.  Mark Anthony Gonzalez scored a first-half goal for the Aces and Faik Hajderovic accounted for UE’s other tally on a penalty kick midway through the second half.
 
Evansville took an early 1-0 lead in the 27th minute, Gonzalez took a pass from Dylan Terry and put it in the back of the net for his fourth goal of the season.  Terry dribbled to the top of the box and found Gonzalez, who was cutting through the box and finished the chance.
 
The Bulldogs pulled even just before the half on a goal in the 44th minute.  Brian Grand scored his first goal of the year on a pass from Michael Thaden, as Thaden played a pass from the corner to the top of the box and Grand beat UE goalkeeper Eric Teppen on a shot to the lower corner of the goal.
 
The two sides entered the locker room knotted at 1-1 with DU holding a slim, 11-10, shot advantage.  Drake also attempted three corner kicks to Evansville’s one in the opening 45 minutes.
 
Hajderovic regained the lead for UE in the 69th minute by converting on a penalty kick, but the Bulldogs tied the score at 2-2 less than two minutes later when they were awarded a penalty kick and Thaden was successful on the attempt.
 
Neither side managed a goal in the final 19:30 of regulation or in either overtime period.  Drake outshot Evansville, 4-2, in both extra sessions and took the only two corner kicks.
 
Hajderovic led the Aces with six shots off the bench, including three on goal.  Nate Opperman added four shots and Terry fired three.  In goal, Teppen made five saves with three of them coming in overtime.
 
Evansville will return to the pitch next Saturday night when they host nationally-ranked Creighton on Senior Day at 7 p.m.  The Aces can earn a share of the MVC regular-season championship and the top seed in the MVC Tournament with a win over the Bluejays.  Creighton topped Missouri State, 1-0, earlier this evening to move to 4-0-1 in the Valley.