Up to this point, many Bradley fall sports have had hot starts to the season. There are streaks that were broken, extended and some that are even unbeaten. With so much discussion over which sport started out the best, we asked the question: Which Bradley fall team has had the most impressive start to their season?
Soccer
By Mark Wagner
If I’ve been impressed by anything this last month when it comes to Bradley athletics, it would be the Braves’ soccer team. Four wins, four draws and zero losses across eight matches.
If you look at the players’ highlights, you’ll see how well this team is performing. Goalkeepers Drew Berry and Alex Grow are playing an equal number of games, which looks to be working for the Braves. After a scoreless draw versus Green Bay, the team will look to tuck a few into the back of the net against a conference rival away from home when they take on Bowling Green on Saturday.
You have to see the soccer team to believe how good they’ve been. We’ll see if this undefeated streak can continue.
Volleyball
By Ethan Carbone
This season marks coach Alicia Williams’ second year at Bradley, and the team has flipped the script after going 10-21 last year. The Braves are already at 7-6 with conference play yet to begin. Graduate transfer Dru Kuck, sophomore Kendall Minta and senior Jasmine Green have all elevated their play to make the Braves a threat heading into conference play.
Next up is the 2022 MVC champions, Northern Iowa.
Women’s golf
By Mason Klemm
I can’t think of anything that’s happened this fall season that’s been more impressive than ending a six-year title drought. Doing it in the home of your biggest rival is the icing on the cake
Following a third place finish to the start of the season, Bradley women’s golf delivered their first tournament win since 2017 at the Redbird Invitational at Illinois State – marking the first win at ISU since 2000. On top of that, senior Grace Aromando won her first individual championship and the team shot the best 54-hole score in program history.
That’s impressive.
Cross country
By Rodrigo Perez
While cross country is more of an individual sport, the performances on both sides of the course have been phenomenal. Losing their head coach didn’t seem to stop the dominant performances that the Braves had become accustomed to.
In their first meet, both the men’s and women came in first at the Western Illinois Alumni Invitational. Bradley showed off their promising youth as both sophomore Nadia Potgieter and freshman Jayde Rosslee won their races on the day.
At home, they did it again.
At the Bradley Intercollegiate, Potgieter and Rosslee won titles in the three-mile and 8K, respectively. Along with that, both sides took home team titles for the second meet in a row.
After a start like this, there is really no telling how high this team can fly – or how fast they can run.
