PEORIA, Ill. -- The Bradley Braves (4-4-5, 0-4-0) set their sights on their first Missouri Valley Conference triumph as they hit the road to challenge the Drake Bulldogs (3-7-2, 1-3-1) in Des Moines, IA.
Wednesday Game Information
Bradley Braves (4-4-5) at Drake Bulldogs (3-7-2)
Date & Time: Wednesday, October 18, 2023 • 6 p.m.
Location: Mediacom Stadium (Des Moines, IA)
Live Coverage: Watch (ESPN+) |
Live Stats
NIU Recap
Bradley fell 1-0 to Northern Illinois on Saturday, Oct. 14, in DeKalb. Goalkeeper
Drew Berry tallied eight saves in the loss.
Bradley Notes
Offensive Overhaul: Bradley's gameplay in 2023 has seen notable changes. To this point, the Braves have seven games where they spent 66% of their time with the ball in the opposition's half of the field. The Braves are averaging nearly 30% of their possession during a game in the attacking 1/3 of the field.
Missing link: Bradley's star forward, Kevin Mejias, remains absent for the team's final game of the three-game road trip. Mejias leads the team with three goals and one assist in seven games. He is a significant contributor to the team's offensive firepower.
Drake Notes
Previewing the Bulldogs: Scoring prowess defines Drake's gameplay this season, with eight players contributing goals. AJ Franklin leads the pack with six goals and one assist, closely followed by Damian Segura with two goals and four assists. The Bulldogs average 1.42 goals per game, totaling 17 goals in 12 matches. On the defensive end, Drake has encountered challenges, conceding 23 goals in the 2023 season.
Unbeaten at home in 2023: Throughout the 2023 regular season, the Bulldogs have maintained an unbeaten record in their five home matches. Their home opener saw a victorious start with a 1-0 win against Western Illinois. Subsequently, they battled to a 2-2 draw against Omaha and secured a 2-1 victory against Evansville. In their two most recent home fixtures, the Bulldogs tied 1-1 against NIU and triumphed 2-0 against St. Thomas.
SERIES HISTORY
Bradley soccer's record vs. Drake is 21-27-5 (6-14-2 away).
-The first-ever meeting came in 1987 when Drake won a 3-2 match in Peoria, IL, after two OTs.
-The last meeting was in 2022, and the Braves got away with a 2-1 victory in the opening round of the MVC tournament.
Kick-off is scheduled for 6 p.m. The match will be available on ESPN+.
