Bradley Returns Home For Four Straight
After managing only one goal during a four-game road losing streak, Bradley will return to the more offensive friendly Shea Stadium for a pair of games this week, Friday night versus Central Arkansas and Sunday afternoon against UMKC. The weekend contests open a four-game homestand for the Braves, who will host the 10th Holiday Inn City Centre Classic Sept. 22-23.
Friday's 7 p.m. contest against Central Arkansas will be Bradley's first-ever game versus the NCAA Division I provisional program, which is directed by former Bradley assistant Chad Flanders. Flanders was an assistant on Jim DeRose's staff from 1996 to 1999, helping the Braves to their first Missouri Valley Conference regular-season championship in 1998.
In Need of a Win
? Bradley will try to stop its longest losing streak in five years Friday when the Braves host Central Arkansas at Shea Stadium.
? Bradley's current four-game slide is the team's longest since a similar four-game losing streak from Oct. 20 to Nov. 1, 2002 and equals the second-longest losing streak in Jim DeRose's 11 seasons as head coach.
? In addition to another four-game skid from Oct. 6 to Oct. 22, 1999, DeRose's 1997 squad lost five straight from Oct. 17 to Oct. 31.
One Streak Does Not a Season Make
? Despite the skids, the 1997 (11-8-0), 1999 (10-10-0) and 2002 (14-6-4) teams all managed to finish their respective seasons with at least .500 records.
? In fact, the four-game losing streak in 2002 came on the end of a six-game overall winless streak (0-4-2), but the 2002 Braves recovered to play in the MVC Tournament championship game and earned the program's second appearance in the NCAA Tournament.
Offense Has Gone Cold
? Bradley opened the season with a 3-0 victory Aug. 25 versus St. Francis (Pa.), but the Braves have managed only two goals during its five-game winless streak (0-4-1) since the opener.
? The two goals are the fewest the Braves have scored during a five-game period since managing only one goal during a five-game period from Oct. 18 to Nov. 1, 2002.
? During Sunday's 1-0 loss at Northern Illinois, the Huskies keeper saved a Drew DeGurian penalty kick in the 20th minute and Joe Donoho hit the post with a header in the game's closing minutes.
Welcome Back Coach Flanders
? For the first time in his 11-year career, Bradley head coach Jim DeRose will take on one of his former assistants when the Braves host Central Arkansas Friday night.
? Flanders, who also played at Illinois State when DeRose worked for the Redbirds as an assistant, served on the Bradley staff from 1996 through 1999 and helped the Braves to their first Missouri Valley Conference regular-season title in 1998.
? Flanders is in his fourth season at Central Arkansas, which is in its first year as a NCAA Division I provisional program.
? Flanders enters Tuesday's game at Memphis with a 39-18-7 (.664) career record.
? In addition to Flanders, former DeRose assistants Jessie Cormier (1997-99) is the head coach at Vermont and Adrian Cox (2001-03) is the head coach at The Episcopal Academy in Philadelphia.
Unofficial Valley Affiliates
? There is no truth to the rumor that Bradley's weekend opponents have gained affiliate membership in the Missouri Valley Conference, but a look at the schedules of both Central Arkansas and UMKC might fool you.
? Both the Bears and Kangaroos will play six of the Valley's seven teams this season.
? Central Arkansas misses only Eastern Illinois, while UMKC will play all but Western Kentucky.
Bradley-UMKC Series Notes
? While Bradley's game Friday versus Central Arkansas will be the first meeting in the all-time series, the Braves boast a 4-2-1 record versus UMKC.
? Bradley is 4-0 all-time at home versus UMKC, outscoring the Kangaroos by a combined 12-2 margin in the four meetings at the old Becker Park field.
