PEORIA, Ill. - Two coaches who have combined for six NCAA Tournament appearances this decade will be the featured speakers during the second annual Braves Club Soccer Gameday Luncheon Oct. 13 at WeaverRidge Golf Club.
The first event on the Braves Club's 2010-11 luncheon schedule, the soccer gathering will feature Bradley head coach Jim DeRose and Drake head coach Sean Holmes. In his 15th year at the helm of the Bradley program, DeRose has guided the Braves to five Missouri Valley Conference titles and four NCAA Tournament appearances, including a run to the 2007 Elite Eight. Holmes is in his 13th year as the head coach at Drake and has made back-to-back NCAA Tournament appearances with the Bulldogs, including an Elite Eight run of his own last season.
Doors will open at 11:15 a.m. for the Braves Club Gameday Luncheon Oct. 13 at WeaverRidge. Tickets are $25 and reservations may be made by contacting the Braves Club Office at 309-677-2667.
Prior to the Oct. 13 game against Holmes' Drake squad, however, Bradley will host IPFW in a 7 p.m. game Friday night at Shea Stadium in the final home game before opening Valley play. Following the game against the Mastadons, fans are reminded a DJ will be performing for a postgame dance on the Shea Stadium field. Thundersticks again will be distributed and fans ages 12 and under may register to win a free Bradley Soccer jersey.
The Braves (3-5-1) won the only previous meeting against IPFW (2-7-0), a 3-0 victory Sept. 16, 2005 at Shea Stadium.
Tickets for all regular-season soccer games at Shea Stadium are $6 for adults, $3 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.
