Bradley University Athletics

Soccer Draws Northwestern to Start Preseason

Bradley dominated the third 30-minute segment, but comes away with a scoreless draw in Friday's preseason opener

Bobby Parker, Associate AD for Communications Soccer 8/13/2021 9:13:00 PM

EVANSTON, IL - Fielding a lineup that does not have a player with more than one season of fall experience with the Braves, Bradley showed some veteran resolve down the stretch, but ultimately came away with a scoreless draw in the first of its three preseason exhibition games Friday night at Northwestern.

While Northwestern held the statistical advantage through the first two 30-minute periods, Bradley's youthful squad dominated the final 30-minute segment, but could not earn the ultimate reward. It appeared the Braves moved ahead about six minutes into the final period off a corner kick set, but as the ball emerged from the scrum in front of the net, the Wildcats keeper apparently pinned the ball against the post. While the Braves were allowed to celebrate what seemed to be a breakthrough goal, the center official met with the linesman and ultimately awarded Northwestern's keeper possession for a punt, ruling the ball did not complete cross the line.

In the 71st minute, Bradley again appeared primed for the breakthrough strike off of a free kick sequence deep in the far corner. The service was flicked across the penalty area to a charging Rasmus Smidtslund on the left flank. Smidtslund's momentum carried him inside the six-yard box, but his shot caromed off the cross bar as the game remained scoreless.

Bradley super senior keeper Bryce Logan, the reigning MVC Goalkeeper of the Year, needed only one save in his 60 scoreless minutes between the pipes. Super freshman keeper Lucas Fontana came through with a fairly simple save in his 30 minutes in front of the net to end the exhibition.

The Braves will be back in action Tuesday night when they host Big East Conference foe Marquette in the annual Danny Dahlquist Memorial Game. Tuesday's exhibition will be played on Bradley's original home field at Peoria Notre Dame High School. Admission will not be charged for the 7 p.m. tribute game, but donations will be accepted throughout the night for Bradley University's Danny Dahlquist Memorial Fund.

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Players Mentioned

#27 Lucas Fontana: GK; 5' 10"; Freshman; Central Illinois United

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

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

Players Mentioned

#27 Lucas Fontana
: 5' 10"; Freshman; Central Illinois United
: GK

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

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

Soccer Draws Northwestern to Start Preseason

Bradley dominated the third 30-minute segment, but comes away with a scoreless draw in Friday's preseason opener

Players Mentioned

#27 Lucas Fontana

#0 Bryce Logan

#13 Rasmus Smidtslund

Players Mentioned

#27 Lucas Fontana

#0 Bryce Logan

#13 Rasmus Smidtslund