Game 23 ? 2007 NCAA Men's Soccer Championship
DePaul (12-7-0) at #21 Bradley (14-5-3)
Saturday, Nov. 24 ? 7 p.m. ? Shea Stadium ? Peoria, Ill.
Series: Bradley leads 4-1-2
at Bradley: Bradley leads 3-1-0
Last Meeting: Bradley, 2-0 (9/2/05)
Live Stats: www.ncaasports.com/soccer/mens
Tickets: $5 adults, $2 youth (k-12), $10 Family Pack, Free for Bradley University students, faculty and staff
Coaches
Bradley: Jim DeRose -- 12th year overall and at Bradley, 141-84-24 (.614)
DePaul: Craig Blazer -- 7th year overall and at DePaul, 43-77-11 (.370)
Fourth Trip to the Dance
? Bradley earned an automatic bid for its fourth appearance in the NCAA Tournament by blanking Eastern Illinois (2-0) and #7 Creighton (1-0) during last weekend's State Farm Missouri Valley Conference Tournament at Creighton's Morrison Stadium.
? The Braves previously earned at-large invitations to the NCAA Tournament in 2000, 2002 and 2005.
? Bradley is 0-3-0 all-time in the NCAA Tournament, losing home games to Illinois-Chicago (1-0) in 2000, New Mexico (2-1) in 2002 and Wisconsin-Milwaukee (2-0) in 2005.
About the Braves
? The program suffered a tragic blow Aug. 12 with the death of redshirt freshman Danny Dahlquist in a house fire, as well as subsequent felony arson charges against three team members who shared the off-campus residence with Dahlquist.
? Despite missing as many as 16 preseason training sessions as a result of the tragedy, the Braves have responded with a 14-5-3 overall record and a sweep of the Missouri Valley Conference regular-season and postseason tournament titles.
? Bradley's primary strength is its veteran defense, led by fifth-year senior goalkeeper Mike Haynes (2nd-Team All-MVC), and a back four that includes three more seniors: sweeper Joe Donoho (MVC Player of the Year), marking back Teddy Anderson (honorable mention All-MVC) and left back Stephen Brust (2nd-Team All-MVC).
? Senior midfielder Drew DeGurian (1st-Team All-MVC) has stepped up as the team's scoring leader with seven goals and seven assists.
About DePaul
? DePaul is making its first-ever trip to the NCAA Tournament. having received an at-large selection to the tournament after winning the Big East Red Division title to cap a remarkable turnaround.
? The Blue Demons were 5-12-2 in 2006 and DePaul and the 12 wins to date this season matches its three-year total from 2004-06 (12-37-7).
? While Bradley prides itself on its defensive work, the Blue Demons have been particularly impressive on the defensive end, posting 11 shutouts in their 19 games and boasting a 0.71 season goals against average.
? Sophomore forward Alex Mangan is the team's offensive leader with seven goals and 15 points, while senior attacking player Julian Chill? owns six assists.
? Junior goalkeeper Brian Visser boasts a 0.76 goals against average and 10 shutouts.
Bradley in the NCAA Tourney
2000 At-Large Selection
N 19 Illinois-Chicago L, 0-1 1,503
Chiefs Club Field at Becker Park
2002 At-Large Selection
N 23 New Mexico L, 1-2 1,612
McClallen Park
2005 At-Large Selection
N 18 Wisconsin-Milwaukee L, 0-2 1,006
Shea Stadium
Bradley vs. DePaul: Bradley Leads 4-1-2
Home: 3-1-0; Away: 1-0-2; Neutral: 0-0-0
Date Site Result
10-29-88 Notre Dame H.S. W 1-0
11-5-89 at DePaul (2ot) T 2-2
10-27-90 Becker Park L 0-1
9-11-91 at DePaul W 2-1
9-13-92 Becker Park (2ot) W 3-2
10-12-93 at DePaul (2ot) T 2-2
9-2-05 Shea Stadium W 2-0
Bradley-DePaul Series
? Bradley owns a 4-1-2 lead in the all-time series versus DePaul, but the in-state rivals have met just once since 1993.
? Bradley won that game, 2-0, in the 2005 season-opener at Shea Stadium.
? DePaul actually owns a dubious honor in Bradley Soccer history: although Bradley's 1-0 victory Oct. 29, 1988 was the program's 11th all-time win, it was the first against a NCAA Division I opponent.
Just Get On The Board
? While Bradley has displayed the ability to overcome an early deficit this season, getting on the board first against DePaul could be the key to earning the program's first-ever NCAA Tournament win.
? With shutouts in 11 of its 12 wins this season, DePaul is 1-7-0 this year when allowing a goal.
? Bradley is 2-5-1 this year when allowing the game's first goal and 6-5-3 overall when allowing a goal.
Indiana Awaits
? The winner of Saturday's first-round game between Bradley and DePaul will head to Bloomington, Ind., to face perennial national power Indiana Wednesday night.
? The Hoosiers are the No. 4 seed in the 2007 NCAA Men's Soccer Championship and will bring a 13-4-4 record into Wednesday's 6 p.m. (CST) second-round game.
? If Bradley earns a first-round win Saturday, the game at Indiana would be the first-ever meeting against the Hoosiers.
Regular-Season Three-Peat
? By overcoming an early deficit en route to a 4-1 victory Nov. 10 against Western Kentucky, Bradley completed an undefeated Missouri Valley Conference regular season to claim a share of its third straight league title.
? Bradley joins Creighton (1992-96) and SMU (2000-02) as the only teams to win at least a share of three straight Valley regular-season championships.
? With wins against Drake and Evansville the primary factors in the tie-breaker against Creighton, Bradley is the No. 1 seed for this week's State Farm MVC Tournament.
First Unbeaten Title
? While Bradley earned its fourth Valley regular-season title overall, Bradley's 4-0-2 conference record this season marks the first time the Braves have ever gone unbeaten in league play.
? Bradley won the 1998 title outright with a 6-1-0 Valley record, the 2005 championship outright with a 5-1-1 mark and claimed a share of the 2006 crown with a 4-1-1 record.
? Bradley also extended its school-record Valley unbeaten streak to nine games (7-0-2).
Automatic Entry
? Bradley backed up its regular-season league title by earning its first-ever Missouri Valley Conference Tournament championship last weekend at Creighton's Morrison Stadium.
? Bradley has played in seven of the last nine MVC Tournament championship games, but Sunday's 1-0 victory at #7 Creighton gave the Braves their first-ever postseason championship.
Riding the Wave
? Bradley is riding a wave of momentum into the NCAA Tournament.
? Since suffering a 2-1 loss Oct. 14 at Western Michigan, Bradley has clamped down defensively en route to a 8-1-1 record in its last 10 games.
? The Braves have allowed only five goals in the last 10 games and no more than one tally in any of those 10 contests.
? Bradley had allowed 14 goals through the first 12 games, leading to a 6-4-2 record.
One Win To Tie Record
? Bradley's 14 wins to date this season is tied for the third-most in program history, just one shy of the record 15 wins achieved in 2000 and 2005.
Quarter of a Thousand
? Saturday night's game will be the 250th in the head coaching career of Bradley's Jim DeRose.
? Completing his 12th year in his Bradley and overall head coaching career, DeRose enters Saturday's game with a 141-84-24 (.614) career record.
? The winningest coach in Bradley Soccer history, DeRose's 141 victories represent 73.4 percent of the program's all-time 192 wins.
Not Much Experience
? While Bradley is making its fourth NCAA Tournament appearance in the eight years, the Braves do not own much postseason experience.
? The roster does include 11 players who have been on the roster in NCAA Tournament years, but only three current Braves have played in the postseason.
? Senior defender Todd Reedy (2005) and senior forward Ken Hickman (2002) are the only two players to start a NCAA Tournament game and senior midfielder Drew DeGurian came off the bench in Bradley's 2005 tourney game.
Player Year Game Status
Teddy Anderson 2005 DNP -- injured
Joti Baruni 2005 Redshirt season
Stephen Brust 2005 Redshirt season
Drew DeGurian 2005 Sub, 2 shots, 1 SOG
Mike Haynes 2005 DNP
Ken Hickman 2005 Mormon Mission
2002 Starter, 2 shots, 1 SOG
Brian Lock 2005 Redshirt season
Andrew Monteith 2005 DNP
Todd Reedy 2005 Starter
Brad Snook 2005 DNP
Thiago Wong 2005 Redshirt season
