Valley Road Trip Continues

Bradley Soccer will play on the road for the fourth time in six games when the Braves visit returning MVC member SIUE Saturday night

Bobby Parker, Sr. Associate AD for Communications and Event & Facility Operations Soccer 9/24/2021 8:06:00 AM

Bradley Soccer will play on the road for the fourth time in six games when the Braves visit returning Missouri Valley Conference men's soccer affiliate member SIU Edwardsville Saturday night.

GAME PREVIEW
Bradley Braves (1-5-0, 0-1-0 MVC) at SIUE Cougars (1-4-2, 0-1-0 MVC)
Date: Saturday, Sept. 25, 2021
Time: 7:00 p.m. CT
Location: Edwardsville, IL
Venue: Ralph Korte Stadium

VALLEY ROAD TRIP CONTINUES
• Completing a swing of four out of six games on the road, Bradley will visit returning Missouri Valley Conference men's soccer affiliate member SIU Edwardsville Saturday night.
• The Braves, who are looking for their first road win of the season, will be starting league play with consecutive road games for the second time in three seasons and the 10th time overall in 31 seasons of MVC men's soccer play.
• Bradley is 2-5-2 all time in the back half of those previous nine 2-game, Valley-opening road swings, last earning a win in the second game of its 2002 league-opening weekend with a 1-0 decision at Western Kentucky.
• Bradley started the 2019 conference season by following a 2-0 loss at Drake with a scoreless draw Sept. 25 at Loyola Chicago.

SERIES HISTORY
19th Meeting | SIUE Leads 10-6-2, 6-2-0 in Edwardsville
• Saturday's matchup will renew an in-state rivalry that has been dormant since SIUE gave up its MVC men's soccer affiliate membership following the 2016 season.
• The last 11 games in the rivalry have been played as Valley rivals, a segment that saw the Cougars post a 6-3-2 record against the Braves from 2010-16.
• Earning a result against the Cougars as Valley rivals has proven to be a good omen for the Braves:
   - Bradley won a PK shootout after a scoreless draw in the 2010 MVC Tournament championship game.
   - Bradley swept both games during the 2011 NCAA Tournament season.
   - Bradley earned a 2-0 win at Shea Stadium during its 2013 NCAA Tournament season.
• SIUE is 4-0-1 in its last five games against Bradley and the Cougars have won all four MVC home games against the Braves.
• Bradley is seeking its first win in Edwardsville since a 2-1 victory as non-conference foes Sept. 10, 1995

ONE-GOAL DIFFERENTIALS
• Bradley's 2-1 setback Saturday at Drake was the team's 11th consecutive regular-season match decided by no more than one goal.
• The Braves are 1-8-2 in those 11 games, dating to a 1-0, overtime loss to #8 Missouri State March 18 at Shea Stadium.
• The 11 consecutive regular-season decisions by no more than one goal is the second-longest such streak in program history, trailing only a 16-game (10-4-2) run during the 2011 NCAA Tournament season.

ROOKIE GOALS
• Each of Bradley's last three goals have been scored by the newest members of the Bradley roster, first-year junior Pepe Mellado (Sagunto, Spain) and Francesco Pettinaroli (Borgosesia, Italy).
• Both players joined the Braves after the start of preseason training camp after navigating international travel during these pandemic times.
• Mellado converted a penalty kick in the 88th minute Sept. 10 against DePaul for his first collegiate goal and added a PK tally in the 85th minute last Saturday at Drake
• Pettinaroli unleashed a one-time volley from the top of the penalty area in the 19th minute to complete a Bradley long-throw sequence to give the Braves the early 1-0 lead Sept. 12 against Utah Valley.

LOOKING AHEAD
• The Braves will open a brief, 2-game home stand by hosting another in-state Valley rival, Loyola Chicago, Wednesday night at Shea Stadium.
• Bradley will welcome defending MVC champion Missouri State to Shea Stadium for the University's annual Homecoming game Oct. 2, before returning to the road for an Oct. 9 trip to Evansville.

FOLLOW THE BRAVES
For complete coverage of Bradley Soccer, please follow the Braves on social media at @BradleySoccer (Twitter), /BradleySoccerAlumni (Facebook) and @bradleybravessoccer (Instagram) or visit the official home of Bradley Athletics at BradleyBraves.com. To receive the latest news on Bradley Soccer directly in your inbox, sign up for eNews in the Fan Zone.

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Players Mentioned

#22 Francesco Pettinaroli: M; 6' 0"; Freshman; Borgosesia Calcio

#14 Pepe Mellado: M; 5' 8"; Junior; Benigànim

Players Mentioned

#22 Francesco Pettinaroli
: 6' 0"; Freshman; Borgosesia Calcio
: M

#14 Pepe Mellado
: 5' 8"; Junior; Benigànim
: M

Valley Road Trip Continues

Bradley Soccer will play on the road for the fourth time in six games when the Braves visit returning MVC member SIUE Saturday night

Players Mentioned

#22 Francesco Pettinaroli

#14 Pepe Mellado

Players Mentioned

#22 Francesco Pettinaroli

#14 Pepe Mellado