DePaul University

DES MOINES, Iowa - DePaul did just about everything it could to score a goal on Sunday---and just could not find the net.

One Blue Demon shot hit the post. Another bounced off the crossbar. Two other times, DePaul missed on open-net opportunities.

In the end, No. 20 DePaul had to settle for a 0-0, double-overtime tie with Drake at the Cownie Soccer Complex.

"We had some very good chances to score, but when you can't capitalize, well, it just isn't your day," said DePaul coach Erin Chastain. "I thought we dominated the game in the second half and the overtimes, but we couldn't finish it off."

DePaul (3-1-2) was at its attacking best late in regulation time with four unanswered shots. Three of them---by Morgan Celaya, Tara Strickland and Callie Hemming---came during a 59-second burst.

At the 81:17 mark, Celaya's shot was high. At 82:08, Strickland's attempt was blocked by the Drake defense. Eight seconds later, Hemming had a good look, but her shot was saved by goalkeeper Kourtney Arnold.

Lauren Pagone had a shot at the 84:49 mark that was also turned away by Arnold, who finished with seven saves.

"It's such a different game when you score early," Chastain said. "Like the Loyola game (4-0 victory). We really got on top of that one right away."

Arianna Foster did her best to accomodate Chastain. Entering the match in the middle of the first half, the sophomore forward unleashed three consecutive shots.

The first shot was high. Shot No. 2 was saved by Arnold. The third shot hit the crossbar.

"For the most part, we took some good shots," said Chastain about her team's season-high 17 shots while Drake (2-2-2) retaliated with 14. "Drake came out with a lot of energy and also created some dangerous situations."

Defensively, freshman goalkeeper Claire Hanold had five saves and recorded her fourth shutout in six games. That equals the total number of shutouts DePaul had posted in 2007 and 2008.

"You would like to come home with two wins, of coursse," Chastain said. "In the end, this was a good experience for the players to be on the road the entire weekend. This will help prepare us for road weekends in the BIG EAST."

NOTES: It's no surprise the Blue Demons had so many offensive opportunities since Drake's opponents have taken a total of 89 shots this season... leading the way in DePaul's veritable shot-fest was Celaya with five shots---two on goal... Hemming had four shots (two on goal) and Foster three with one on goal... out of DePaul's 17 shots on Sunday, seven were on goal... for the season, Celaya leads the team with 18 shots and eight on goal... Strickland is second with 13 shots (four on goal) and Pagone is third with 10 shots (four on goal)... Strickland is the leading scorer with five points with Williams and Dominique Locascio second at four points apiece... Shannon Williams and the Blue Demons' fast start were the subject of an article on ESPNChicago.com that also ran on ESPN.com's national college site... the Blue Demons will have a pair of road weekends during the BIG EAST conference season, Oct. 2-4 at Pittsburgh and West Virginia and Oct. 9-11 at Seton Hall and Rutgers... up next is a 4 p.m. match Friday at Wish Field against Butler... last season, DePaul lost to Butler 2-1 on the road.