PEORIA, Ill. -- Sophomore forward Teddy Anderson and junior college transfer Zach Bell teamed up for a pair of first-half goals, leading Bradley (1-0-0) to a 2-0 victory versus DePaul (0-1-0) to cap the first day of action at the Holiday Inn City Centre Classic Friday night in front of 1,340 fans at Shea Stadium.
In Friday's tournament opener, Butler's John Mariscaclo scored the game's only goal in the 69th minute, leading the Bulldogs (1-0-0) to a 1-0 victory versus Western Illinois (0-1-0). Bradley will take on Butler Saturday night for the Holiday Inn City Centre Classic championship. Western Illinois will face DePaul in Saturday's opener at 5 p.m. at Shea Stadium.
Anderson has battled injuries his first two years at Bradley, playing in just eight games last season after redshirting the 2003 campaign. After scoring a pair of goals and adding an assist in the Aug. 23 exhibition game versus Northwestern, Anderson starred against another Chicagoland team Friday night. He notched his first career goal in the 24th minute by ripping a shot from about 12 yards out on the right wing into the left corner.
A quick Bradley counter in the 28th minute led to Anderson's second goal. After accepting a freeing pass from Bell, Anderson juked DePaul keeper Brian Visser with a move to his right, then poked home the empty-netter. Bell, who racked up 122 points on 44 goals and 34 assists in his first two seasons at Springfield College in Illinois, earned his first career Bradley points by assisting both of Anderson's tallies.
Bradley dominated possession for the first two-thirds of the game and did not allow DePaul to take even one shot until Julian Chille finally uncorked a wide blast in the 66th minute. By that point the Braves held a 14-0 edge in shots. Senior goalkeeper Chris Dunsheath did face two shots in the final 20 minutes and the preseason All-American was up to the challenge. With his two saves, Dunsheath upped his career shutout total to 17.5, moving him within one-half a shutout of Adam Gross' career school record of 18 from 1997 through 2000.
In Friday's opener, Butler and Western Illinois played an even match, with the difference being a team save in the 63rd minute. Still scoreless at the time, Western Illinois star forward Nowaf Jaman beat Butler keeper Frank Peadody in a one-on-one situation, but he did not put a lot of force on his attempt. Defender Matt Soldato was able to race to the far post and clear Jaman's shot off the line to preserve the shutout.
Mariscalco made Soldato's effort pay off by heading home a Scott Olsen free kick in the 69th minute for the game's only tally. Both teams finished with four shots, but Maniscalco's goal was the only attempt the Bulldogs managed to get on frame. Peabody made three saves in his shutout effort.
