PEORIA, Ill. -- The Bradley Soccer team was unable to pick up a win against two of the nation's premier programs during this past weekend's Wake Forest Tournament, but the Braves put on a strong enough showing to continue to gain ground in the weekly SoccerTimes.com Top 25 Coaches Poll.
Bradley started the year with five points in the preseason SoccerTimes.com Top 25 Coaches Poll, good for tie for 16th among the “others receiving votes.” After sweeping Lipscomb and Belmont by identical 2-1 scores in the season-opening Holiday Inn City Centre Classic at Shea Stadium, the Braves moved to a tie for 10th among the “others receiving votes” with 12 points in the first poll of the regular season Sept. 4. While the Braves did lose one point in the voting this week, Bradley's 11 points are good for the eighth spot (33rd overall) among the “others receiving votes.”
Bradley finished third in last weekend's Wake Forest Tournament by playing North Carolina, the No. 14 seed in last year's NCAA Tournament, to a 1-1 draw Friday night, before playing event host and the nation's top-ranked team, Wake Forest, to a scoreless standoff through the first 65 minutes in Sunday's finale. The Demon Deacons (4-0-0) eventually went on a quick scoring spree and earned a 3-0 victory to hand Bradley (2-1-1) its first loss of the season. North Carolina bounced back from Friday's tie against the Braves to deal then No. 16 Akron a 3-0 loss Sunday afternoon. The Zips also suffered a 3-1 loss to Wake Forest Friday night.
In addition to its spot in the SoccerTimes.com Top 25 Coaches Poll, Bradley moved into an eighth-place tie in this week's NSCAA/adidas Midwest Region rankings. The Braves will face the region's sixth-ranked team, Western Illinois (3-0-1) Thursday evening in Macomb.
Following Thursday's game against the instate rival Leathernecks, Bradley will return home for four consecutive games, beginning with Sunday's clash against defending Big East Red Division champion Cincinnati. Sunday's 1 p.m. game against the Bearcats at Shea Stadium will serve as the marquee event during the program's 20th anniversary reunion weekend. The homestand will continue Sept. 22 against nationally-ranked Saint Louis and will conclude with games versus IUPUI (Sept. 28) and Horizon League champion UIC (Sept. 29) in the Busey/Bradley Homecoming Classic.
Single-game ticket prices for regular-season Bradley Soccer games at Shea Stadium are $5 for adults, $2 for children (K-12) and free for Bradley University students, faculty and staff, as well as active members of the military and their immediate families, all with valid identification. Parking at Shea Stadium is $2 per vehicle.
