When Bradley hit the long road to Kalamazoo, MI, it had been 4,042 days since Bradley soccer last earned a point (draw/win) against a team nationally ranked in the top 15. On Saturday, October 26th, 2024, that drought came to an end.

In a hard-fought match at the WMU Soccer Complex, Bradley went the full 90 minutes against #9 Western Michigan. The contest ended in a 0-0 stalemate, marking a notable defensive performance from both sides. Despite being outshot, Bradley's defense stood firm, with goalkeeper Drew Berry making eight crucial saves to keep the match scoreless. Western Michigan generated the greater number of chances, registering 17 shots but failed to convert any into goals. Bradley managed to generate nine shots of their own, with five testing Bronco goalkeeper Colin Welsh.

Offensively, the Braves' midfield generated most of their chances, with Dom Woolley, Joao Saraiva, and Alex Nicastro collecting four of Bradley's five shots on goal; Mitch Coughlon registered the fifth. Drew Berry continued his strong run of shutouts, now owning four clean sheets on the season, and building on his career high of 44 saves.

What's Next?

Bradley will be in action next against the UIC Flames, who are 6-8-0 overall and 2-4-0 in MVC play. UIC currently represents the #6 seed for the MVC tournament, with Bradley in 7th due to a head-to-head tiebreaker with Belmont. UIC has 6 points in conference play, while Bradley has four. With only two matches remaining, Bradley has a chance to sneak into the MVC's top six. The Braves will close out the season at UIC and then at home against Northern Illinois, while UIC will conclude its season at home against Bradley and then on the road against Western Michigan.

Current MVC Standings
*The MVC uses Head-to-Head meetings as 1st tie breaker followed by Goal Differential as the second tie breaker and finally NCAA RPI as the 3rd tie breaker.