Soccer Regular-Season Finale Saturday

Bradley will try to play the role of spoiler Saturday night when the Braves take on MVC-leading and 14th-ranked Loyola Chicago

Richard Olson at Midfieldvs Omaha Oct. 18, 2016

Bradley University Marketing

Bobby Parker, Associate AD for Communications Soccer 11/4/2016 6:37:00 PM

CHICAGO - Bradley Soccer will play the role of spoiler when the Braves visit Missouri Valley Conference rival Loyola Chicago Saturday night at Loyola Soccer Park. The Ramblers enter Saturday's finale leading The Valley and can clinch at least a share of their first MVC title with a draw against the Braves. Bradley's postseason position has been determined and the Braves will open the MVC Men's Soccer Championship with a first-round game Tuesday night against Drake.

GAME DETAILS
Bradley Braves (2-13-3, 0-6-1 MVC) at #14 Loyola Chicago Ramblers (12-2-1, 5-1-1 MVC)
Date:  Saturday, Nov. 5, 2016
Time:  7:00 p.m. CT
Location:  Chicago, IL | Loyola Soccer Park

COACHES
Bradley
Jim DeRose (Johnson State '89)
Career Record:  223-170-43 (21st season)
at Bradley:  Same
vs. Loyola Chicago:  9-2-0

Loyola Chicago
Neil Jones (UC Santa Barbara '04)
Career Record:  36-23-13 (4th season)
at Loyola:  Same
vs. Bradley:  1-2-0

SERIES HISTORY
Overall: Bradley leads 13-4-0 | at Loyola: Bradley leads 5-3-0
Saturday night's game will be the 18th meeting in the all-time series between Bradley and Loyola and the Braves boast a 13-4-0 series advantage to date ... Since the Ramblers joined The Valley in 2013, Bradley has won two of the three meetings, including a 1-0 victory last season at Shea Stadium ... In Bradley's last visit to Loyola, however, the Ramblers earned a 2-1 victory in overtime Sept. 27, 2014.

NOVEMBER MEETINGS
Saturday's regular-season finale marks the first time Bradley and Loyola have ever played a regular-season game against one another in the month of November ... In the only previous November matchup, Bradley earned a 2-1 victory during the first round of the NCAA Tournament at Shea Stadium ... The latest regular-season game between the two teams prior to this year was Oct. 31, 2012 - a 3-0 Bradley victory in Chicago.

FIFTH NATIONALLY-RANKED OPPONENT
When Bradley visits No. 11 Loyola Chicago in Saturday's regular-season finale, the Braves will be facing their fifth opponent this year currently ranked in the NSCAA national poll ... The Ramblers are ranked as high as No. 14 this week ... Bradley earned a preseason win against current No. 16 Notre Dame and the Braves also have faced No. 19 Utah Valley, No. 21 San Diego State and West Coast Conference leading Portland (second among others receiving votes).

TOP 25 ROAD GAMES
Saturday's game at Loyola Chicago will be Bradley's first road game against a nationally-ranked opponent since the Braves fell to #6 California in the second round of the 2013 NCAA Tournament ... Although Bradley is 8-19-3 all-time in true road games against the top 25, the Braves are 6-6-1 in their last 13 road games against nationally-ranked opponents dating back to a 1-0 win at #7 Creighton in the 2007 MVC Tournament championship game ... Bradley's last road win versus a top 25 opponent came just down the road from where Saturday's game at Loyola will be played, a 3-2 overtime win at #3 Northwestern Oct. 2, 2013.

BUSY SLATE AHEAD
After a week off before its final game of the regular season Saturday at Loyola Chicago, Bradley faces the challenge of short preparation for the Missouri Valley Conference postseason tournament ... As the Braves chase their fourth MVC Tournament title, they will be faced with the possibility of playing five games in eight days ... Following Saturday's game at Loyola, the Braves will open the MVC Tournament Tuesday against Drake in Springfield, MO ... The Bradley/Drake winner will return to action in the Wednesday quarterfinals with the semifinals set for Friday and the championship game Nov. 13 ... Drake, by the way, has completed its conference schedule and will have had a full week in between its regular-season finale Tuesday night versus Western Illinois (2-1 loss) and the tournament opener Tuesday against Bradley.

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