PEORIA, Ill. - Not only will Notre Dame begin defense of its 2013 national championship in Peoria, but the Fighting Irish will become just the second No. 1 ranked team to visit the Bradley Soccer team in the program's 28-year men's soccer history when the Braves play host to the national champions Aug. 19 at Shea Stadium.
While Notre Dame was revealed as the No. 1 team in the 2014 preseason NSCAA/Continental Tire NCAA Division I Men's Soccer national poll Wednesday afternoon, Bradley also received two points in the poll to be listed among the 21 schools "also receiving votes." Among the 47 teams to appear in the preseason poll, Bradley will visit #24 Cal State Northridge Sept. 14 and will host another school receiving votes, Denver (1), Oct. 6.
Billed the "Battle of Champions," defending Missouri Valley Conference Tournament champion Bradley will host defending national champion Notre Dame Aug. 19 in the annual Danny Dahlquist Memorial Game. The 7 p.m. exhibition game at Shea Stadium is expected to feature five local products: former Peoria Notre Dame High School star Vince Ciccarelli is preparing for his senior season with the Fighting Irish, while Bradley's lineup includes a pair of Ciccarelli's former PND teammates, Alex Garcia and Grayson McGraw, as well as freshmen Jacob Taylor (Dunlap) and Matt Perry (Monmouth, Ill. via Zionsville, Ind.). Notre Dame will become the second No. 1 ranked soccer team to visit Bradley, following Creighton's 1993 visit to the old Becker Park facility.
Tickets for the Danny Dahlquist Memorial Game went on sale July 9 at the Bradley Athletics Ticket Office in Renaissance Coliseum (309-677-2625) and the game already has eclipsed 1,700 in advance ticket sales. General admission prices for the benefit game are $10 and groups of at least 15 may purchase tickets at a $6 group rate. A limited number of free tickets are available for 2013-14 members of the Little Braves Club.
The Danny Dahlquist Memorial Game will be preceded earlier in the day by the soccer team's annual Braves Club Game Day Luncheon, featuring head coaches Jim DeRose and Bobby Clark. The Braves Club Game Day Luncheon will be held in the Michel Student Center Ballroom Aug. 19. Doors will open at 11:15 a.m. and the speaking program will begin at noon. Tickets for the year's first Game Day Luncheon are $20 for Braves Club members or $25 for the general public and may be reserved now by contacting the Braves Club Office at 309-677-2667.
Bradley graduated 11 seniors from its 2013 squad that received four points in the final NSCAA/Continental Tire NCAA Division I Men's Soccer national poll after advancing to the second round of the NCAA Tournament. The 2013 Braves finished the year with a 14-7-2 record and won the MVC Touranment title by sweeping three rounds at Shea Stadium. Notre Dame was 16-1-6 a year ago and won the NCAA Men's Soccer Championship after sharing the ACC regular-season crown.
BRADLEY ATHLETICS MISSION
Provide every student-athlete the opportunity for both a distinctive education and a championship experience
Accountability | Courage | Diligence | Integrity | Respect
