QUICK OVERVIEW
Bradley will complete a tough, 3-game preseason exhibition schedule Saturday night when the Braves visit #25 Akron for a 6 p.m. (CT) kickoff at FirstEnergy Stadium - Cub Cadet Field ... Fielding a 31-man roster that includes 16 freshmen and 22 first- or second-year players, Bradley is playing its 3-game exhibition schedule in an 8-day span against what could be the three toughest teams on its 2015 schedule ... The Braves started the preseason by rallying for a 3-3 draw at Marquette last Saturday and Bradley is coming off Tuesday's 3-0 home loss to #6 Creighton in the seventh annual Danny Dahlquist Memorial Game at Shea Stadium.
Related Link: Bradley Pregame Notes Packet (PDF)

SERIES HISTORY
First Meeting
Although Saturday's exhibition game officially will not count toward any series records, the scrimmage will be the first-ever men's soccer meeting between Bradley and Akron ... The Braves are 11-12-3 (.481) all-time against the current Mid-American Conference alignment with all 26 games coming against the trio of Bowling Green (2-0-0), Northern Illinois (6-9-3) and Western Michigan (3-3-0) ... Bradley will play its 2015 home finale against Western Michigan Nov. 3 at Shea Stadium.

PRESEASON TESTS
Bradley's three preseason opponents - Marquette (8-6-4), Creighton (16-3-3) and Akron (13-6-2) - combined for a 37-15-9 (.680) record last year ... Both Creighton (Big East) and Akron (MAC) appear in the 2015 NSCAA preseason top 25 and are coming off 2014 league titles ... Bradley's 17 regular-season opponents combined for a .460 winning percentage in 2014.

ROAD WARRIORS
Since the start of the 2010 season, Bradley has enjoyed considerable success away from home, particularly against non-conference competition ... In the last five seasons, Bradley is 26-21-7 (.546) in 54 total games away from home ... Included in that total is a 20-11-5 (.625) record against non-conference competition away from home.

LOOKING AHEAD
After playing two of its three preseason games on the road, Bradley will continue the theme to start the season by opening its 29th NCAA season Aug. 28 at Illinois-Chicago ... From there, however, Bradley will return to the friendly surroundings of Shea Stadium, where the Braves will play their next three games, beginning Aug. 30 against Houston Baptist in a rare Sunday night game.