Bradley University Athletics

Soccer Preseason Camp Underway

Bradley Soccer held its first on-field practice for the 2021 season Tuesday night

2021 Soccer Schedule

Bobby Parker, Associate AD for Communications Soccer 8/11/2021 8:53:00 AM

PEORIA, IL – As Bradley Soccer prepares for its 35th season as a NCAA Division I program, preseason camp kicked off in earnest Tuesday night when the Braves conducted their first practice at the Louisville Slugger Sports Complex Slugger Dome.

Fielding a 31-man roster that features 28 student-athletes who will begin the season with at least three years of collegiate eligibility, the Braves will transition quickly from the practice field to the game field by playing three preseason exhibition games in an 8-day span, beginning with Friday night's visit to Big Ten Conference foe Northwestern. The final two exhibitions will be played against Big East Conference competition – Tuesday night against Marquette in the annual Danny Dahlquist Memorial Game at Peoria Notre Dame High School and Aug. 20 at former Missouri Valley Conference rival Creighton.

Although the Braves feature a youthful lineup in Jim DeRose's 26th year at the helm, the team is bolstered by one of the nation's top goalkeepers. The reigning MVC Goalkeeper of the Year, super senior Bryce Logan returns to once again protect Bradley's net. In his first season with the Braves as a graduate transfer from the University of Washington, Logan led The Valley with 5.0 saves per game during the 2020-21 COVID season, logging every minute between the pipes during Bradley's 11-game spring season.

A pair of third-year sophomores – midfielder Rasmus Smidtslund and forward Danny Collins – return as the team's top offensive producers. Smidtslund and Collins are two of just the six Braves who have played in a traditional fall game for Bradley.

The first opportunity at traditional fall college soccer action for the rest of the squad will come Aug. 26, when the Braves officially open the 2021 season with a 7 p.m. kickoff against Omaha at Shea Stadium. The game against the Mavericks will be the first of nine regular-season games Bradley will host at Shea Stadium and fans once again will be welcome at full stadium capacity.

Tuesday's Danny Dahlquist Memorial Game against Marquette will be played at Peoria Notre Dame High School, which served as Bradley's home soccer venue for the program's first three NCAA Division I seasons (1987-89). Admission will be free for Tuesday's tribute game, though donations will be accepted for Bradley University's Danny Dahlquist Memorial Fund.

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Players Mentioned

#6 Danny Collins: F; 5' 10"; Sophomore; St. Louis FC Academy

#0 Bryce Logan: GK; 6' 2"; Senior; Crossfire Premier

#13 Rasmus Smidtslund: M; 5' 11"; Sophomore; Laajasalon Pallo and Tikkurilan Palloseura

Players Mentioned

#6 Danny Collins
: 5' 10"; Sophomore; St. Louis FC Academy
: F

#0 Bryce Logan
: 6' 2"; Senior; Crossfire Premier
: GK

#13 Rasmus Smidtslund
: 5' 11"; Sophomore; Laajasalon Pallo and Tikkurilan Palloseura
: M

Soccer Preseason Camp Underway

Bradley Soccer held its first on-field practice for the 2021 season Tuesday night

Players Mentioned

#6 Danny Collins

#0 Bryce Logan

#13 Rasmus Smidtslund

Players Mentioned

#6 Danny Collins

#0 Bryce Logan

#13 Rasmus Smidtslund