PEORIA, Ill. -- Bradley's freshman Indiana connection of Chris Cutshaw (Carmel, Ind./Carmel H.S.) and Justin Bigelow (Auburn, Ind./DeKalb H.S.) each scored first-half goals, leading the Braves (3-4-1) to their second consecutive victory, a 3-0 non-conference men's soccer decision versus UMKC (0-7-0) Sunday afternoon at Shea Stadium.
By winning its second straight home game, Bradley improved to 11-0-1 in its last 12 regular-season contests at Shea Stadium. The 12-game regular-season home unbeaten streak is the longest in program history, eclipsing the mark of 11 consecutive home wins from Nov. 9, 1997 through Sept. 11, 1999. Bradley, which did lose a pair of postseason games at Shea Stadium last November, has not lost a regular-season home game since falling to Butler, 1-0, Sept. 3, 2005 in the championship game of the Holiday Inn City Centre Classic.
Bradley turned in a dominant performance Sunday, outshooting the Kangaroos 24-12 for the game. Cutshaw provided all of the necessary offense in the 22nd minute when he deflected a Grant Campbell service from the right wing past UMKC starting keeper Brandon Amaya for his third goal of the year. Cutshaw's former club teammate, Bigelow made it 2-0 in the 39th minute when he followed up a deflected shot by Nick Mentgen and got just enough on his shot to roll it by a diving Amaya. The goal at 38:39 was the first career tally for Bigelow.
Senior Zach Bell joined Cutshaw atop the team's scoring chart with three goals by converting a penalty kick in the 71st minute. Bradley midfielder Drew DeGurian was taken down in the box by a UMKC defender to set up the penalty kick. Amaya, however, argued the call with the center official and was promptly issued a red card. Freshman Ricardo Guerra replaced Amaya and was able to get a piece of Bell's shot, but not enough to prevent the goal.
The Kangaroos played a man down the final 20 minutes and were unable to generate many serious threats the rest of the way.
Bradley will continue its four-game home stand next weekend by hosting the 10th Holiday Inn City Centre Classic Friday and Saturday at Shea Stadium. Missouri Valley Conference rival Missouri State will play the first game both days, facing Alabama A&M in Friday's 5 p.m. game and Robert Morris in Saturday's five o'clock contest. Bradley will take on Robert Morris in Friday's 7:30 nightcap and Alabama A&M in Saturday's tournament finale.
Admission for regular-season home games at Shea Stadium is $5 for adults, $2 for youth and free to Bradley University students, faculty and staff, as well as active military personnel and immediate families, all with valid IDs.
