After the best football season in Drake University history, the Bulldogs are back to prove that the 2024-25 season was not a one-off year. The team has returned to campus for the fall semester with high ambitions and something to prove.
“Our goal is always to win, and our team motto is ‘Raise the Bar,'” quarterback Luke Bailey said. “Everything we do, we know we have to raise the bar because now we’re the team to beat.”
With a winning record of 8-4 for the 2023-24 season and a clean 8-0 record in the Pioneer League Conference, the Drake men’s soccer team had its best season in school history last year. This was the first time the team won its conference title and made it to the National Football Championship Subdivision playoffs. Although the game against North Dakota State in November 2023 may not have turned out the way the men hoped, this season could be a chance for revenge.
“After last year, we’re excited,” said sophomore Javon Murry. “We know we’re a target on and off the field. Our mindset has changed. We no longer want to win for other people, but we want to win for the guy next to us, and we know that the people who really support us are ourselves.”
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The 2023-24 season was loaded with talent from big-name universities like North Dakota State and South Dakota State, who met the Bulldogs in non-conference games, to Butler and San Diego in the division, with the team winning both home and away against some of its biggest conference rivals.
Since the team knows they will be playing against more formidable teams like South Dakota, Quincy, and Eastern Washington in non-conference games, both the offensive line and defensive line will be preparing for any plays that will be thrown their way. This will be especially important in non-conference games, as the competition there is usually tougher, which can lead to mistakes. While this is a time for the team to make mistakes and iron them out, it is also a time for them to fix anything they feel could help them in normal conference play and try new plays against opponents the team rarely faces.
The team is working on all aspects of their game, but there is one crucial component they have been working on to improve their consistency between plays.
“I think a big strength for me and the team is not allowing one snap to affect the next,” Bailey said. “We’ve preached ‘cycling the snap,’ and not allowing one play to determine the outcome has been critical.”
Looking ahead to the Bulldogs’ 2024-25 season, the team will face Quincy at Drake Stadium on August 29 at 6:30 p.m. Even though Quincy is a DII school, it will be important for Drake to focus on the goal of the game and the overall goal of the season: raising the bar.
