Peoria, IL -- Bradley Soccer will welcome in the Milwaukee Panthers for their 2025 home opener.
Game Information
Bradley Braves 0-1-1 (0-0-0 MVC) vs Milwaukee Panthers 0-1-1 (0-0-0 Horizon)
Date & Time: Thur, August. 28th • 5:00 PM CST
Live Coverage: ESPN+ |
Live Stats
Location: Shea Stadium in Peoria, IL |
Tickets
All-Time Series: Milwaukee leads 6-1-1
The Bradley Braves
Bradley will look to bounce back after a 4-1 loss to the Wisconsin Badgers as they host the Milwaukee Panthers for BU's home opener of the 2025 season. The Braves notched their first goal of the season with a converted penalty kick by
Kevin Mejias in the 85th minute. Bradley's offense has shown flashes of promise through their first two games, nearly setting records for total shots in their season opener against Marquette and generating late chances against Wisconsin.
Despite the loss to Wisconsin, the Braves navigated a challenging opening weekend, earning a result in one of their two matches against Big East and Big Ten opponents. With Thursday's home game, the Braves will get a brief break before heading back on the road for the final two games of their early-season stretch, playing four of their first five games away from home.
When game day arrives, fans can expect a full slate of festivities. Tailgate lots open at 3:00 PM, with a free hot dog bar, tacos, and t-shirts available for the first 750 students starting at 4:00 PM.
The Milwaukee Panthers
Much like the Braves, the Panthers earned a draw in their season opener, which came against fellow MVC foe Northern Illinois, followed by a 2-1 road loss to Lindenwood. Milwaukee has scored at least one goal in each of its first two games and ranks in the top 30 nationally for shots on goal per game, averaging seven.
The Panthers are led by head coach Kris Kelderman, who is in his 15th season as a head coach and 14th season with Milwaukee. He holds a 102-97-43 record with the Panthers and a 113-100-44 record overall in his coaching career. On the field, Milwaukee will look to a trio of early-season goal scorers—Daiki Kumakawa, Dominic Zuniga, and Oliver Weir—who have all contributed to the team's offensive efforts.
History says!
Bradley has enjoyed notable success against Horizon League opponents, particularly at home. As a program, Bradley holds a 17-16-6 record against current Horizon League teams, including an impressive 13-3-4 mark in Peoria. Of Bradley's 16 losses to Horizon League teams, six have come at the hands of the Panthers. A promising trend for the Braves is their strong performance in home openers. Since 2010, Bradley is 11-2-2 in home-opening games and has won five straight home openers at Shea Stadium.
