NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Bradley did not score a goal in its Missouri Valley Conference opener Friday night at Vanderbilt (5-4-1, 0-0-1), but the Braves (7-3-1, 0-0-1) did keep alive a pair of unbeaten streaks by battling the Commodores to a 0-0, double-overtime tie at the Vanderbilt Soccer Complex.
Senior goalkeeper Chris Dunsheath (Rockford, Ill./Boylan H.S.), a preseason All-American and the reigning Valley Defensive Player of the Week, made five saves to earn his sixth shutout of the season. The last save came in the final minute of the first overtime session on a shot by current MVC scoring leader John Krause, who entered the game with nine goals in nine games. With the shutout, the Braves ran their unbeaten streak in Valley road games to six games, equalling the longest such streak in program history. Bradley, which is 1-0-1 in overtime this season, also extended its unbeaten streak in extra time to 22 games (9-0-13), dating back to the 2000 MVC Tournament championship game.
Although Vanderbilt outshot Bradley, 20-14, Vanderbilt keeper Kenny Schoeni needed to make one more save than Dunsheath to keep the Braves off the board. Bradley's three best chances to score all came from former Commodore Steve Chromik, who put three of his team-high five shots on frame. A senior from Elk Grove, Ill., Chromik played his first two college seasons at Vanderbilt, before transferring to Bradley after the 2002 campaign. Last year, Chromik scored what proved to be the game-winner in a 4-1 victory at Vanderbilt.
Friday's game got off to a rough start. Vanderbilt was whistled for 17 fouls in the first half, compared to just six for the Braves, and the hosts received four yellow cards in the first 37 minutes. The Commodores held a slim 15-13 advantage in shots through the 90 minutes of regulation time, then outshot Bradley 5-1 in the 20 extra minutes. Krause's attempt in the 100th minute, however, was the only shot by either team in the two overtimes to challenge the keepers.
By running his personal overtime records to 5-0-12 and 278-minutes, 29-seconds of extra time without allowing a goal, Dunsheath increased his school career record to 22.5 career shutouts. He remains fourth in Valley history, but moved to within just 3.5 of the Valley's all-time leader Mark Modersohn, who recorded 26 shutouts at Missouri State from 1997 through 2000.
Dunsheath and the Braves will return to action Wednesday night when they host Valley rival Drake (3-6-1, 0-0-0) in a 7 p.m. contest at Shea Stadium. Following an offseason change in the Valley regular-season scheduling format, which previously called for Friday-Sunday swings, Wednesday's game will be the first-ever midweek conference game for the Braves. Single-game ticket prices for Bradley Soccer games normally are $5 for adults, $2 for youth (K-12) and seniors and free to Bradley University students, faculty and staff.
