Coming off its best season the Drake men’s soccer team will be in search of a third straight trip to the NCAA Tournament this year. The Bulldogs finished 16-7-2 in 2009 and made it all the way to the Elite Eight. They are ranked 14th nationally heading into the season.

Drake coach Sean Holmes says it’s the first time that has happened and it has given the team some energy, knowing they have something to live up to. Holmes says they must find a way to replace six key seniors from last year’s team.

He says they had a lot of experience going into the big games last year, and while he says this is one of their best incoming classes, replacing the experience of last year will be the biggest challenge of the year.

Drake will play three exhibitions before opening the season at Michigan on September third.