WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. ? Sophomore forward Chris Cutshaw (Carmel, Ind./Carmel H.S.) knocked home a bicycle kick from close range in the 72nd minute to draw the Braves even and senior goalkeeper Mike Haynes (Peoria, Ill./Dunlap H.S.) made a career-best nine saves as Bradley (2-0-1) remained unbeaten on the young season by earning a 1-1 draw against North Carolina (0-1-2) in Friday's opening game of the Wake Forest Tournament at Spry Stadium.
Bradley had the game's first scoring chance in the seventh minute when senior Drew DeGurian's header at the near post from a corner kick sailed just wide. The Tar Heels dominated the rest of the first half, however, outshooting Bradley 9-1 for the period.
UNC took advantage of the situation when Zach Loyd buried a low shot from 15 yards out for a 1-0 lead at 18:43. The goal was set up by a quick combination between Scott Campbell and Bill Dworsky at the top of the box to spring Loyd into the right side of the penalty area.
Although North Carolina outshot the Braves in the second half, 8-6, Bradley gained a clear possession advantage early in the second period when DeGurian stunned everyone with a rocket from 25 yards out that caromed off the crossbar in the 48th minute. Moments later Cutshaw found himself one-on-one with UNC keeper Tyler Deric on the right flank, but sent his shot across the goal mouth and just wide of the left post. Cutshaw again got loose for a one-on-one matchup with Deric on the left side, but couldn't keep the ball from crossing the endline after juking around the prone keeper.
The crafty sophomore finally broke through for the equalizer at 71:34. DeGurian's long throw from the right sideline pinged around in front of the net, before finding its way to Cutshaw. Just four yards out on the left side of the goal and with his back to the goal, Cutshaw dropped backward and flicked the loose ball over his head for his second goal of the year.
Haynes came through with two of his saves in the first overtime period and Bradley had the only shot of the final 10-minute extra frame as the teams settled for the 1-1 draw.
Bradley will return to action Sunday by taking on tournament host and the nation's top-ranked team, Wake Forest, in the 2:30 p.m. (ET) finale. #16 Akron will face the Tar Heels in Sunday's noon opener. The Braves are 0-2-0 all-time on the soccer pitch against the nation's No. 1 ranked team and the school's only win against a top-ranked team in any sport was the men's basketball squad's 91-90 victory against Oscar Robertson's Cincinnati squad Jan. 16, 1960 at Robertson Memorial Fieldhouse.
