Ankeny boys’ soccer standout Landon Benge found everything he was looking for at nearby Drake University.
That’s why the senior forward has committed to play for the Bulldogs next year.
“I love the size, location, the soccer program and the coaching staff,” said Benge. “I’ve had the opportunity to work with coach Pat (Flinn) at some camps, and I really like his style of play. I look forward to continuing to learn and grow as a player.”
Benge said he looked at a wide variety of schools before choosing the Bulldogs.
“I talked to coaches from several programs at various levels locally and farther away: Grand View, Wartburg, University of Wisconsin-Platteville, Lafayette and others,” he said. “I love soccer and want to be able to continue my athletic career at the highest level I have the opportunity to be able to.”
Academics also played a major role in Benge’s decision.
“My focus was on finding a school that had a soccer team and also offered programs in science or business,” he said. “I was initially still trying to decide between those two. The size of the school and location wasn’t really weighing on my overall decision. But after visiting the campuses and meeting with faculty/coaches, I got excited about the opportunities that Drake offered. I’ve since decided to lean more toward the business program.”
Benge helped the Hawks to an 11-9 record and a trip to the Class 4A state tournament last season. He led the team with 14 goals and also had four assists.
Benge was named to the Class 4A all-state first team by the Iowa High School Soccer Coaches Association. He was also selected to the CIML Conference first team.
Ankeny native Cole Poppen is an assistant coach for the Bulldogs. Poppen started his college career at the University of Tulsa before coming home to Drake, where he served as a captain and led the team in assists in his final two seasons.