CHARLESTON, Ill. - The bad breaks continue to go against the Bradley Soccer team as host Eastern Illinois (5-5-2, 2-3-0 MVC) sent the Braves (5-7-1, 0-5-0 MVC) to their ninth consecutive Missouri Valley Conference loss with a 1-0 decision Sunday afternoon at Lakeside Field.

Restarts continue to haunt Bradley as Evan Philpott finished off a free kick sequence for the game's only goal in the 76th minute.  Of the nine goals the Braves have surrendered through the first half of The Valley's double, round-robin schedule, eight have come from restarts.

This time, the Panthers served a free kick from the 18-yard mark on the left sideline to the front of the goal.  With Jerry Maddi making a run underneath the Braves' backline, Bradley sophomore Wolfe Repass headed the ball out of the penalty area.  Unfortunately for the visitors, however, the ball fell to Philpott on the right side of the box.  After taking a touch, Philpott let loose a laser that found its way through the scrum and into the netting inside the right post at 75:25 for his second goal of the year.

Although Eastern Illinois outshot Bradley 9-3 in the first half, the Braves had the best scoring opportunity of the period in the 37th minute.  First-half substitute Jochen Graf made an aggressive run down the right flank and rolled a centering pass into the box.  With three Braves charging through the middle of the box, senior Justin Bigelow re-directed the ball toward the goal, but with EIU keeper Sean Molony sitting inside the goal, the ball caromed off the right post and away.

Applying more pressure in the second half, Bradley outshot Eastern Illinois 8-5 in the final 45 minutes, but could not break through.  Valley scoring leader Chris Cutshaw twice appeared to have opportunities to fire from point blank range after flank services fell to his feet, but he was unable to pull the trigger on the muddy service.   In a similar situation, Grant Campbell appeared to turn and fire a rocket that appeared ticketed for the net, but a Panthers defender came out of nowhere to deflect the shot away.

The Braves will try to snap their Valley skid Wednesday night when they host league-leader Creighton in a 7 p.m. kickoff at Shea Stadium.  Wednesday's game will be preceeded by the soccer program's first-ever Gameday Luncheon at noon at WeaverRidge Golf Course.  Bradley head coach Jim DeRose and Creighton coach Bob Warming, national coach-of-the-year award winners the last two years, respectively, will address Wednesday's luncheon crowd.  To purchase luncheon tickets ($20), contact the Bradley Braves Club Office at 309-677-2667.