BOWLING GREEN, Ky. -- Bradley (7-7-3, 3-1-1) will get a chance to defend its 2005 Missouri Valley Conference championship on the last game of the regular season next Saturday night at Shea Stadium after earning a 2-1 Valley road victory Saturday night at Western Kentucky (4-8-3, 0-3-2).
Junior back Stephen Brust sent home a header to finish off a corner kick play in the 26th minute and freshman Chris Cutshaw scored what proved to be the game-winner in the 52nd minute by beating Hilltoppers keeper Pat Rickman on a counter attack. Alex Holmes halved Western Kentucky's deficit with his second goal of the year in the 70th minute, but Bradley keeper Mike Haynes used five saves to keep the Braves on track for back-to-back league titles.
By posting a 2-0-1 record in its three Valley road games this season, Bradley increased its point total in the league standings to 10, three behind current league-leading Creighton (4-0-1). Missouri State (3-2-1) fell out of the title chase by dropping a 3-1 decision Saturday at Drake. By winning next Saturday at home versus Creighton, Bradley would tie the Bluejays for the regular-season league title and earn the No. 1 seed in the State Farm MVC Tournament, which will be played Nov. 1, 3 and 5 at Shea Stadium. A tie would leave the Braves alone in second place, but would give Bradley a similar bye into the tournament semifinals. A loss, however, could drop Bradley as low as fourth in the final standings, depending on the Drake-Eastern Illinois result Saturday.
In addition to the championship stakes next Saturday night against Creighton, the regular-season finale will be one of the marquee events of Bradley's annual Homecoming weekend. The Braves and Bluejays will kick off at 7 p.m. Saturday night and the regular-season finale will be followed by a fireworks show. Tickets for regular-season Bradley Soccer games at Shea Stadium are $5 for adults, $2 for youth (K-12) and free for Bradley University students, faculty and staff, as well as active military personnel and their immediate families, all with valid identification.
