Peoria, IL -- The Bradley Braves earned a 1-1 draw against UIC in their MVC Opener.
In a game where both teams looked to begin Missouri Valley Conference play on a high note, Bradley and UIC walked away with a 1-1 draw and their first conference points of the 2025 season.
The Braves and Flames have had some high-energy matchups over the years, and this one was no different. Both sides took early cracks at goal in the first ten minutes. DJ Koulai created the initial attempt for Bradley, while Edouard Nys fired the first shot for UIC. As the first half wore on, UIC ramped up their possession and defensive pressure, holding the Braves to just one shot for the remainder of the half. UIC managed four additional attempts of their own in a free-flowing half before the horn sounded. The only stoppages came from bookings for Rui Reis of UIC and Kevin Mejias of Bradley.
In the second half, both teams showed flashes of strong attacking play and solid defending in the final third. Bradley opened the scoring after a flurry of four consecutive shots, all saved by UIC goalkeeper Owen Cornell culminated in a fifth attempt that finally found the back of the net. Mitch Coughlon scored the goal, assisted by Nokkvi Hjorvarsson and DJ Koulai.
The Braves' lead wouldn't last long. Just 60 seconds later, UIC responded with a quick advance down the field, resulting in their first goal of MVC play. Edouard Nys netted his ninth goal of the season, continuing his impressive campaign and maintaining his place among the top three goal-scorers in the country. The remaining thirty minutes were marked by physical play and rapid counterattacks from both sides. Three more players were booked in the final half-hour with Hjorvarsson for Bradley, and Preston Huitron and Jacobo Cruz for UIC.
As the final minutes ticked away, DJ Koulai fired off one last shot in an effort to lift the Braves past the Flames, but the match ultimately ended in a 1-1 draw. Both teams earning one conference point apiece.
The Braves improve to 2-3-4 overall and 0-0-1 in MVC play, the Braves will be back in action when they hit the road to take on the Northern Illinois Huskies who also claimed a 1-1 draw against MVC preseason favorite Drake. The game is scheduled for October 4th at 7:00 p.m. from the NIU Soccer and Track Complex in Deklab, IL. The game will be availble for streaming on NIU Athletics All-Access.
