QUICK OVERVIEW
Bradley Soccer will open its 29th NCAA season Friday when the Braves visit in-state rival Illinois-Chicago for a 3 p.m. kickoff in Chicago at Flames Field ... After a tough, 3-game exhibition schedule, Friday's season-opener could serve as the collegiate debut for as many as 16 true (12) and redshirt (4) Bradley freshman and the team's 31-man roster includes 22 first- and second-year players ... UIC returns 17 lettermen, including eight starters, from a 2014 squad that finished 7-8-2 overall ... Bradley is opening a season on the road for the first time since 2011 and the Braves have won six straight season-opening, true road games since the program's inaugural NCAA game Sept. 1, 1987, a 1-0 loss at Quincy.

SERIES HISTORY
Game 16 | UIC leads 8-7-0 | UIC 4-2-0 in Chicago
Friday's game will be the 16th all-time men's soccer matchup between Bradley and UIC and the host Flames own an 8-7-0 lead in the series, including a 4-2-0 advantage in Chicago ... The Flames have won two straight against Bradley overall, as well as four straight home games against the Braves ... Bradley's last road win against UIC was a 7-6 win in two overtimes Sept. 5, 1992, still the highest-scoring game in program history (matched twice).

20TH SEASON OF DEROSE ERA
The 2015 season represents the 20th year of the Jim DeRose head coaching era at Bradley ... DeRose, who took over the program to start the 1996 season, enters Friday's game at UIC with a 214-147-39 career record, making him the second winningest coach in Missouri Valley Conference men's soccer history ... DeRose's 214 wins represent 80.8 percent of the 265 wins in the program's 29-year history ... In his first 19 years as head coach, DeRose also has directed the Braves to seven Missouri Valley Conference regular-season and tournament championships and seven NCAA Tournament appearances.

LOOKING AHEAD
Bradley will open a 3-game home stand with a rare, Sunday night game when the Braves host Houston Baptist in a 7 p.m. game Sunday at Shea Stadium ... Bradley won the only previous meeting against Houston Baptist, a 1-0 decision Oct. 3, 2008 in Houston ... The home stand will continue with another Friday-Sunday weekend as the Braves will host DePaul Sept. 4 (7 p.m.) and Milwaukee Sept. 6 (1 p.m.) at Shea Stadium.