The Bradley Braves and Missouri State Bears will meet for the 49th time in a series that dates back to 1988. Missouri State holds a 35-9-4 advantage in the all-time series, which has featured lengthy stretches of one-goal games between the two sides. Bradley will look to earn its first result in the series since 2015 but has consistently challenged Missouri State over the past decade, with eight of the 15 meetings decided by one goal or less. The last meeting between the two teams ended in a 1-0 victory for Missouri State, despite Bradley playing with 10 men for the final 35 minutes.

The Bradley Braves
Bradley will look to make a late-season push and build momentum following a draw against NAIA powerhouse Olivet Nazarene. Through this point in the season, Bradley has proven difficult to put away, tying the program record for draws in a season with six. The Braves last reached that mark in 2023. Offensively, Bradley continues to rank second in the Missouri Valley Conference (MVC), averaging 1.91 goals per game, while sitting third in the conference with 72 corner kicks on the season.

Mitch Coughlon continues to rank among the MVC's top goal scorers with seven goals, trailing only Vitor Geromel of Western Michigan. Following Bradley's most recent contest, the Braves surpassed last season's scoring total with four regular-season games still remaining.

The Missouri State Bears
Missouri State has maintained a consistent presence on the national stage this season, earning a ranking in six of the first nine weeks of the season. The Bears are coming off a scoreless draw against Florida Atlantic and will look to goal scorers Diego Real and Fionn Mooney to help them return to the win column. The duo has combined for 13 goals this season.

Missouri State has split its goalkeeping duties relatively evenly throughout the season, with Fernando Alves Schmelz earning the most recent start.

The Bears are coached by Michael Seabolt, who is in his eighth season at Missouri State. Seabolt holds a career record of 81-42-22, including a previous head coaching stop at West Virginia.

Kickoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. at Betty & Bobby Allison South Stadium in Springfield, Missouri. The match will not be available for streaming. Fans are encouraged to follow Bradley Soccer's social media accounts for live updates and can also follow the action through the live stats link available here.