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Box Score 2
PEORIA, Ill. -- Bradley sophomore forward Desmond Campbell's second goal of the day in the 76th minute lifted the Braves (2-1-1) to a 3-2, come-from-behind win against Nebraska-Omaha (1-2-0) Sunday afternoon in the final game of the 2012 Hotels at Grand Prairie Classic at Shea Stadium.
The Mavericks stunned their hosts with a pair of first-half goals, benefitting from a pair of re-directions in the box. Nick Miller gave UNO a 1-0 lead in the seventh minute when he top-footed a loose ball across the goal mouth.
After Campbell answered with his first goal of the day in the 13th minute, Chava Garcia again put the Mavericks in front, 2-1, when he deflected a Vince Rookwood blast off his hip and past Bradley keeper Brian Billings at 27:25.
Trying to fight back from a 2-1 halftime deficit, Bradley poured on the offensive pressure in the second half, rattling off the first 13 shots of the period. But despite the onslaught, the Braves did not get the equalizer until the 63rd minute, when a flurry of shots resulted in a Mavericks handball in the box and a Bradley penalty kick. Junior midfielder Keegan Balle buried the opportunity at 62:48.
The Braves, who finished the half with a 18-5 advantage in shots, took their first lead on a great combination that started with a Ross Williams rush into the box from the right flank in the 76th minute. Williams sent a service across the goal mouth and beyond the left post, where freshman forward Jason Lesch played the ball back into the middle. Campbell charged onto the ball and drilled the back of the net for this third goal in two games at 75:57. Williams earned his second assist of the day, while Lesch picked up his first career point for the Braves.
After opening the season with four consecutive home games, Bradley will head out of state for its next five games, beginning with a pair of neutral-site games Friday versus Cincinnati and Sunday against Portland in the Evansville Aces ProRehab Classic.
Though Bradley and Mercer both finished the Hotels at Grand Prairie Classic with 1-0-1 records, Mercer claimed the tourney title with a +2 goal differential. Coached by former Bradley associate head coach Brad Ruzzo, the Bears played Hartwick to a 2-2 draw Sunday afternoon after downing UNO, 2-0, Friday night.
A complete recap of Sunday's Bradley-UNO game will be posted later this evening.
2012 Hotels at Grand Prairie Classic Summary
Champion: Mercer (1-0-1, +2 goal differential)
Runner-up: Bradley (1-0-1, +1 goal differential)
3rd Place: Hartwick (0-0-2)
4th Place: UNO (0-2-0)
All-Tournament Team
Mercer: Ryan King (MVP), Will Betts, Joey Heavner, Ashani Samuels
Bradley: Grant Bell, Desmond Campbell, Josh Otusanya
Hartwick: Jack Miller, Chris Walter
UNO: Chava Garcia, Nick Miller