PEORIA, Ill. -- Senior forward Chris Cutshaw recorded the seventh hat trick in Bradley history while also becoming the first-ever Brave to score at least one goal in each of the season's first three games, leading Bradley (2-0-1) to the championship of its own Busey Bank Kickoff Festival with a 3-0 victory against Mercer (0-2-1) Sunday night at Shea Stadium.

Cutshaw, who entered the game as the Missouri Valley Conference active leader for both goals and points, pushed those numbers to 27 and 61, respectively, by scoring on his only three shots of the game.  His hat trick was the first by a Brave since Preston Good hit the back of the net three times Sept. 12, 2003 against Drury and helped him earn tournament Most Valuable Player honors.  With five goals through the season's first three games, Cutshaw has moved into a tie for fifth place on Bradley's career list with 27 goals.

Cutshaw's performance overshadowed Sunday's coaching matchup.  Mercer's second-year head coach, Brad Ruzzo, was Bradley's top assistant for eight years from 2000-07 and he added former Bradley goalkeeper Mike Haynes (Bradley '07) to his staff as a graduate assistant this year.

With a light mist falling at the start of Sunday's tournament finale, Cutshaw quickly rained on the coaching reunion by heading home a Bryan Gaul corner kick service just 2:42 into the game.  His other two goals completed throw-in plays, the first with a side volley in front of the net at 40:54 and the final with another header at 63:15.  Gaul also was credited with an assist on Cutshaw's second tally, running his total to four helpers in the season's first three games, already twice as many as Bradley's three tri-leaders last season.

As impressive as Cutshaw's night was, the Bradley defense also was stellar.  The Braves did not allow a shot on goal in the game and the first of Mercer's four shots did not come until the 43rd minute on a free kick by Ian Cameron that sailed high over the net.  Although he did not have to make a save, Bradley junior goalkeeper Drew Van Kampen was credited with his first shutout of the season.

In Sunday's early game, Memphis (1-0-1) handed Eastern Illinois (0-2-1) a 2-0 defeat on the strength of two goals by reserve forward Jon Wright.  The Tigers and Braves played to a 1-1 draw Friday night in the NSCAA Game of the Week on Fox Soccer Channel, giving both teams a 1-0-1 record in the tournament.  Since both teams also allowed only one goal during the tournament, Bradley claimed the tournament title with a +3 goal differential, one better than Memphis.

Cutshaw was joined on the Busey Bank Kickoff Festival all-tournament team by fellow Braves Gaul, senior midfielder Justin Bigelow and senior defender Travis English.  Memphis placed three players on the team:  Rick Alleman, Parker Duncan and Jon Wright.  Eastern Illinois freshmen Kyle Bullock and Jerry Maddi also earned all-tournament honors, while Mercer's Ryan Young and Ian Cameron rounded out the 11-man squad.

Unbeaten through three games for the second time in three years, Bradley will return to action in another home tournament next weekend, hosting Western Michigan, Xavier and Evansville in the Hotels at Grand Prairie Invitational at Shea Stadium.  Bradley will take on Western Michigan in a 7:30 p.m. game Friday and will close out the tournament by taking on Xavier at 7:30 Saturday night.