No. 3 DRAKE 1, No. 1 SIUE 0
Box Score

EDWARDSVILLE, Ill. – Drake freshman midfielder Paul Ciszewski drove a long ball into the far post of the goal in the 78th minute for the game's only goal as the Bulldogs earned a 1-0 victory against SIUE in the 2015 Missouri Valley Conference Men's Soccer Championship Sunday afternoon at Korte Stadium.

Drake claims its second MVC Championship title and secured its third appearance in the NCAA Tournament, as the Bulldogs were also in the field in 2008 and 2009. 

SIUE controlled the possession throughout much of the game, especially in the first half, out-shooting Drake 9-1 in the first period. The Cougars forced Drake goalkeeper Darrin MacLeod to make three saves in the opening stanza, narrowly missing scoring opportunities by Ivan Gutierrez (3:34), Justin Bilyeu (10:31) and Jabari Danzy (34:35). 

Although SIUE pinned Drake in the Cougars' offensive third for the majority of the first 45 minutes of play, both sides were held scoreless heading into halftime. 

The Bulldogs applied more pressure on the SIUE defense for much of the second half, and were finally able to convert in the 78th minute off the foot of freshman midfielder Paul Ciszewski. Nic Jaimes sent a corner kick in play when the ball was cleared out to Ciszewski, where he sent the ball into the far post from about 35 yards out. The goal was the first of the career for Ciszewski.

SIUE tried to even the match in the final 10 minutes, but the Bulldogs were able to hold off the late flurry of the Cougars' offense.

Darrin MacLeod posted his third consecutive shutout in the MVC Men's Soccer Championship, his seventh of the season, leading the Bulldogs to victory. 

Drake returns to the NCAA tournament for the first time since 2009 when the Bulldogs made a run to the Elite Eight before falling to North Carolina, 1-0, one match shy of the College Cup.

The Bulldogs will find out their opening round opponent in the 2015 NCAA Men's Soccer Championship during the Division I Men's Soccer Selection Announcement on Monday, Nov. 16, at 12 PM (CST), on NCAA.com.

2015 MVC Men's Soccer All-Tournament Team
Alec Bartlett, Drake
Justin Bilyeu, SIUE
Kyle Dal Santo, SIUE
Alex Garcia, Bradley
James Grunert, Drake
Daniel Hare, Loyola
J.T. Kotowski, Bradley
Austin Ledbetter, SIUE
Darrin MacLeod, Drake
Rob Oslica, Missouri State
Daylon Schiffel, Central Arkansas
Eric Schoendorf, Loyola
MVP - Kyle Whigham, Drake