Peoria, Ill -- Bradley Soccer will open the 2026 regular season by hosting the DePaul Blue Demons.

Game Information 
Bradley Braves 0-0-0 (0-0-0 MVC) vs DePaul 0-0-0 (0-0-0 Big East)
Date & Time: Thursday, August 20th | 6:00 PM CST
Live Coverage: Live Stats | Watch | Tickets
Tailgate Lot: Open at 4:00 PM, $10 to park in tailgate lot
Location: Shea Stadium in Peoria, IL
All-Time Series: Bradley leads 8-2-3

Time to Kickoff!
Bradley will open its 2026 campaign against DePaul, kicking off the Braves' 15-game regular-season slate. Bradley concluded preseason play on August 14 following an exhibition against Milwaukee, having also faced Northwestern and Southeastern Community College earlier in the preseason. Similarly, DePaul squared off against No. 4 Saint. Louis, Indian Hills Community College and Wisconsin during its preseason slate. The all-time series has leaned in favor of the Braves, with Bradley holding an 8-2-3 record against DePaul, including a 5-1-2 mark in Peoria.

The Braves have also won five of the last seven meetings against DePaul dating back to 2005. Most recently, the two sides battled to a 2-2 draw in Peoria last season. Another note of history on the side of Bradley is their home opener success. Home-opening results have been nearly automatic for the Braves, as Bradley is 5-0-1 in home openers since 2020.

The New Look Braves
Bradley welcomed plenty of new faces to the squad ahead of the 2026 season, many of whom will see time Thursday night. Of the Braves' 13 newcomers, 11 are underclassmen. While there will be plenty of new faces to watch for, there will also be plenty of familiarity throughout the roster. Senior Mitch Coughlon, a native of nearby Washington, IL, was recently named to the All-Missouri Valley Conference Preseason Team following a breakout junior season. Coughlon will be joined by seven other Braves who have been with the program for three or more years (Cohen Musschoot, Caden Frank, Ardit Abdullai, Ivan Reyes, Tommy Graham, Franc Nmengah and Ian Ferguson).

Bradley's offense was something the Braves could lean on a year ago, as the team scored in 14 consecutive matches, a program record. Much of the returning production comes from the final third of the field and the midfield. At the back, Bradley will be breaking in a new goalkeeper this season, as every minute from last season departed via graduation. Marçal Salom Chandre, Mitchell Barrett and Joseph Heiar will be the available goalkeepers this season and all three who will be looking to record their first minutes at the Division 1 level.

The DePaul Blue Demons
DePaul wrapped up its preseason slate against Wisconsin on August 15 and will look to get the 2026 season started on a high note. Last season, the Blue Demons finished 2-8-7 overall and 0-6-2 in Big East play. However, DePaul enters Thursday's matchup with a 2-0-1 record in its last three season openers.

Much like Bradley, DePaul will also be breaking in a new goalkeeper this season. The Blue Demons return just one goalkeeper from a year ago in Hayden Vostal, who appeared in one match in 2025. Offensively, DePaul returns two of its top three goal scorers in Keagan Pace and Noeh Hernandez, who combined for seven goals in 2025. The Blue Demons are coached by Mark Plotkin, who enters his ninth season at the helm of the program with 34 career wins under his belt.

Tickets for Threads
All kids in 12th grade and under will receive free admission to any Bradley Athletics home event—with the exception of men's basketball—simply by wearing the jersey or gear of their school or club team.

How it Works

• Eligible participants: Kids in 12th grade and under

• Requirement: Wear the uniform or gear of your school or club team

• Events: Free admission to all Bradley Athletics home events (excluding men's basketball)

• Ticket Pickup: Tickets must be claimed on the day of the event at the box office or designated ticket table

• Important Note: Tickets cannot be secured in advance—no pre-sale is available

By offering free access to Bradley home events, Tickets for Threads provides local youth the opportunity to experience the energy of Division I athletics while inspiring their own passion for sports. For more information on Tickets for Threads or upcoming Bradley Athletics events, visit BradleyBraves.com or contact the Bradley Athletics Ticket Office at (309) 677-2625.