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2
Olivet Nazarene ONU (8-0-3, 3-0-0)
2
Bradley BRAD (2-4-6, 0-3-0)
Olivet Nazarene ONU
(8-0-3, 3-0-0)
2
Final
2
Bradley BRAD
(2-4-6, 0-3-0)
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
Olivet Nazarene ONU 2 0 2
Bradley BRAD 0 2 2
vs OLI

Bradley Soccer battles back to earn a home Draw

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Game Recap: Soccer | | Cody Roskens
Peoria, IL -- Bradley Soccer battled back to earn a home draw on Field Trip Day!

On a wet and rainy Thursday at Shea Stadium, the Bradley Braves battled back from a 2-0 second-half deficit against nationally ranked NAIA powerhouse Olivet Nazarene in their 2026 Field Trip game!

The match began with Bradley putting together several strong sequences in the opening 10 minutes, nearly scoring on consecutive corner-kick opportunities from Liam Healey and Braden Missey. However, Olivet Nazarene launched its best counterattack of the day and wasted no time pushing forward with pace. Atjon Thaqi, the Tigers' leading goal scorer, finished the sequence with a high-class strike from distance to open the scoring and give Olivet Nazarene a 1-0 lead.
 


In the minutes that followed, Bradley's attacking pressure resurfaced, generating six shots and a corner kick over the next 20 minutes of play. Once again, however, Olivet Nazarene withstood the pressure and created opportunities of its own. With less than 40 seconds remaining in the first half, Pablo Ortiz Suarez found the back of the net to extend the Tigers' lead to 2-0 heading into halftime.

As the second half got underway, the Braves faced an uphill battle, trailing 2-0 and needing to generate momentum. The majority of the half featured a stalemate between the two sides, as neither team could find the finishing touch through the first 25-plus minutes of play.
 


Then, everything changed in a hurry.

With less than 15 minutes remaining, Bradley sprang to life as Connor Chester scored off a feed from Beshoy Eldiaf in the 75th minute to cut the deficit to 2-1. With the Braves now hunting for the equalizer, they continued to attack in different ways, utilizing both the long ball and passes to feet. Those efforts culminated in an unlikely hero stepping up for Bradley: Caden Frank, a four-year member of the program.

Entering the match, Frank had played just 23 minutes in his career and had never recorded a goal. That all changed during his 17 minutes of action on Thursday afternoon. With time running out, Frank found himself at the doorstep of the goal after a bouncing ball entered the box. With a back-heel flick, he found the back of the net to level the match at 2-2 with just under four minutes remaining.
 


Olivet Nazarene mounted one final attack, earning a corner kick in the closing moments, but the opportunity expired before the Tigers could get a shot on goal. The Braves will return to action when they hit the road to take on nationally ranked Missouri State in Springfield, Missouri. The match will not be available for streaming
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Players Mentioned

Connor Chester

#20 Connor Chester

MF
6' 1"
Sophomore
Liam Healey

#6 Liam Healey

MF
5' 9"
Freshman
Braden Missey

#13 Braden Missey

F
6' 3"
Freshman
Caden Frank

#16 Caden Frank

MF
5' 10"
Senior

Players Mentioned

Connor Chester

#20 Connor Chester

6' 1"
Sophomore
MF
Liam Healey

#6 Liam Healey

5' 9"
Freshman
MF
Braden Missey

#13 Braden Missey

6' 3"
Freshman
F
Caden Frank

#16 Caden Frank

5' 10"
Senior
MF