The Bradley Braves’ soccer season is underway, and expectations are high after a 5-12-1 record in 2021 and a Missouri Valley Conference semifinal berth last season. Despite that, this young BU squad is looking for more.
The Braves are 1-1 after a win against Northern Kentucky and a loss versus Missouri-Kansas City. In the home opener against the Norse last Thursday, Bradley won 2-1. Redshirt freshman Kaloyan Somov had both goals and Nick Burke saved seven shots.
On Sunday, Bradley lost 3-2 in Kansas City to the Roos. Patrick Fishburne and Pepe Mellado both scored for BU. Burke stopped four of seven shots.
The only senior lost last season was star goalkeeper Bryce Logan. The former captain finished ninth in program history with 121 saves and 2,698 minutes in two seasons. He was also the MVC goalkeeper of the year in the 2020-2021 season.
Two goalkeepers were added in the offseason for the Braves. Burke, a junior from Auckland, New Zealand, transferred from Niagara University and has two years of remaining eligibility. Drew Berry, a freshman from Westminster, Massachusetts, trained with Eture Sports in Spain during the 2021 season.
Three other freshmen were recruited to Bradley in the offseason. Gonzalo Gil is a forward from Valencia, Spain and defenseman Braden Griffin comes from the Michigan Wolves. Andrea Zinellu, an Italian midfielder, also looks to add to the young team.
Mellado is the only senior on a roster that also includes four juniors. Of the 26 players on the roster, nine are freshmen or redshirt freshmen and 12 are sophomores or redshirt sophomores. The Braves had playoff experience last year and are looking to make a deeper run in 2022.
Despite Loyola University Chicago leaving the MVC at the end of last season, the conference has increased from six teams to seven. The Belmont Bruins and the University of Illinois Chicago Flames were new additions to the Missouri Valley soccer conference.
Conference play for men’s soccer begins on Sept. 17 with a matchup against Belmont but perhaps the toughest opponent will be Homecoming Night versus No. 19 Missouri State on Oct. 1 at Shea Stadium. The Braves also play against Michigan in Ann Arbor on Oct. 14.
After a Thursday battle with Northern Illinois, the Braves take off on a two-game road trip to Green Bay and Omaha.
