After the 2001 graduation of an eight-man class that was at the center of Bradley's rise to prominence on the soccer field, the current crop of seniors came to the Hilltop as one of the top-rated groups of recruits in the country. The class immediately lived up to its billing by helping the Braves to a 15-game unbeaten streak (11-0-4) to start the 2002 season, the program's highest national ranking ever (10th in the weekly NSCAA poll) and an appearance in the 2002 NCAA Tournament.
The Class of 2005 went out in style, too. Led by a 12-man senior class, the 2005 Braves won the program's second Missouri Valley Conference regular-season championship, equaled the school record with 15 wins, advanced to the State Farm MVC Tournament championship game for the fifth time in seven years and hosted a first-round NCAA Tournament game.
Jim DeRose began his 10th season as Bradley's head coach secure in the knowledge that his defense would be the team's strength in 2005. DeRose was right. Led by goalkeeper Chris Dunsheath and a senior dominated defensive unit, the Braves ranked among the top defensive teams in the country in 2005. Dunsheath set the school single-season record with 11 shutouts, breaking his own record of nine set in 2002, and posted a league-best 0.81 goals against average.
Offensively, the Braves were led by junior college transfer Zach Bell, who registered 18 points on seven goals and four assists. Sophomore forward Teddy Anderson added 16 points on six goals and four assists. Senior Steve Chromik added 12 points on three goals and six assists, while sophomore forward Nick Mentgen also reached double-figures with 11 points on four goals and three assists. In all 17 players recorded at least one point.
The Braves won their second Valley title with a late-season surge. After going 1-1-1 in its first three league games at Vanderbilt (1-1), home against Drake (2-1) and at Creighton (2-3), the Braves went on a seven-game winning streak that carried them to the MVC Tournament championship game at Shea Stadium. Anderson netted the only goal in a 1-0 win at Eastern Illinois to start the streak, as well as the only score in the 1-0 win at Missouri State to clinch the league title in the regular-season finale. Bell also provided a dramatic goal in overtime to deliver a 2-1 victory versus Western Kentucky in the annual Homecoming Game at Shea Stadium.
In addition to the team hardware, several individuals were rewarded for their accomplishments in 2005. Dunsheath, who ended his career with a Missouri Valley Conference record 27.5 shutouts and third all-time in NCAA men's soccer history with 8197 minutes played, became the first-ever Bradley player to be voted a first-team All-American (NSCAA). The Valley Defensive Player of the Year, Dunsheath also became the first-ever goalkeeper in league history to earn All-MVC honors four times in his career. A three-time Valley Scholar-Athlete, Dunsheath also was voted to the NSCAA Scholar All-American first team.
Senior defender Adam Hage also was recognized for his combined work in the classroom and on the field by being voted a second-team ESPN the Magazine Academic All-American by the College Sports Information Directors of America. While Dunsheath was collecting first-team All-MVC honors, Hage was joined on the second-team by seniors Salim Bullen, Steve Chromik and Jeff Kellogg. Bell was voted honorable mention All-MVC by the league's head coaches.
Dunsheath was invited to the MLS Combine, a tryout for the nation's top seniors prior to the MLS SuperDraft, but he elected to postpone his professional career while he completes his school work. Dunsheath is enrolled in Bradley's Integrated 3:2 Master of Science Accounting program, which will award him both a bachelor's degree and master's degree upon completion. After earning the double degree next December, Dunsheath plans to pursue his pro career with hopes of joining former Braves Bryan Namoff (DC United), Luke Kreamalmeyer (Real Salt Lake) and Tim Regan (MetroStars) in Major League Soccer.
