Box Score OREM, Utah - Bradley stretched its defensive scoreless streak to the fourth-longest in program history, only to see host Utah Valley (5-0-0) score twice in a span of less than three minutes late in the first half en route to a 4-1 win Friday night in the second game of the Holiday Inn Express Invitational at Clyde Field.
The Braves (3-2-0) pushed their defensive scoreless streak to 362 minutes, 55 seconds before Austin Buxton ended the streak with a 25-yard blast of a loose ball at 38:15. At home at nearly 4,800-feet above sea level, the Wolverines quickly struck again in the 41st minute when Karson Payton headed home an Alex Neff service.
Although Utah Valley finished with a 14-10 edge in shots, the Wolverines managed only five shots on goal. But while Logan Ketterer entered the game with a .889 saves percentage, the Bradley keeper made only one save Friday. Utah Valley keeper Collin Partee saved three of Bradley's four shots on goal.
Trailing 3-0 midway through the second half, Bradley got on the board in the 67th minute when sophomore defender Jacob Taylor finished a Frank Bak free kick with a header inside the right post. Utah Valley regained its 3-goal advantage, however, in the 81st minute when Skyler Milne returned the favor by heading home an Aaron Meyer free kick.
The Braves will return to action Sunday morning by facing UNLV (3-2-0) in the final round of the Holiday Inn Express Invitational. The Rebels opened the tournament with a 2-0 win against Mercer, which is coached by former Bradley associate head coach Brad Ruzzo.