Bradley vs. Cincinnati Photo Album
PEORIA, Ill. -- Sophomore midfielder Grant Campbell (Littleton, Colo./Chatfield H.S.) knocked home a loose ball at the right post in the 78th minute and Bradley locked down the Cincinnati offense as the host Braves (4-1-1) earned a 1-0 non-conference soccer victory versus the Bearcats (1-4-0) Sunday afternoon at Shea Stadium.
Bradley senior goalkeeper Mike Haynes (Dunlap, Ill./Dunlap H.S.) needed just three saves to record his second shutout of the week, helping the Braves snap a four-game losing streak to Cincinnati.
After an evenly-played first half, which saw both teams get off five shots, Bradley turned up the pressure in the second half, when the Braves outshot Cincinnati 9-4. Bradley finally broke through for the game's only score at 77:20 following a series of corner kicks and long throws. Senior Drew DeGurian started the scoring play with a throw from the left sideline. Cincinnati tried to get a clearance, but the ball fell to Bradley sophomore forward Chris Cutshaw (Carmel, Ind./Carmel H.S.) at the top of the box. Cutshaw played the ball over the top to the right post, where sophomore Justin Bigelow (Auburn, Ind./DeKalb H.S.) got a head on it. The ball dropped to Campbell's feet and he sent his shot high into the roof to beat Bearcats keeper Miguel Rosales.
Cincinnati tried to counter in the game's final 10 minutes and the most-threatening attempt came from Kenny Anaba in the 83rd minute. Anaba, who came into the game with four goals in Cincinnati's first four games, got free with a move to his right and ripped a shot from just outside the penalty area, but Haynes got just enough of the laser to force the ball over the crossbar for a corner kick. Despite bringing everyone forward, including Rosales, the Bearcats were unable to get off another shot.
After suffering its only loss of the season Sept. 9 on the road against defending Atlantic Coast Conference champion Wake Forest, Bradley bounced back with a pair of shutout wins against two more defending conference champions this week: Thursday's 3-0 win at Summit League champion Western Illinois and Sunday's 1-0 victory against the defending Big East Red Division champion Bearcats. Bradley will face a fourth straight league champion Saturday when the Braves host nationally-ranked Saint Louis in a 7 p.m. clash at Shea Stadium.
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.
