Following a 1-4 start to the season and an early strategy change by coach Jim DeRose, the Braves men’s soccer team is enjoying its first winning streak of the year after sweeping the Evansville Aces ProRehab Classic.
The Braves won the tournament by winning both games played against Marshall and Mercer, with scores of 4-0 and 2-1, respectively.
Even though it was a smaller tournament consisting of only four teams, Coach Jim DeRose says his teams needs to win, no matter the size of the game.
“I’m a pretty competitive dude,” DeRose said. “I always tell guys if you’re gonna keep scoring, keep track, you might as well win at it.”
In the midst of a six game road trip, Bradley took on both teams in Evansville, Indiana.
Against Marshall the Braves scored a season high of four goals, which included a goal in the seventh minute by tournament MVP Jason Lesch, who later also assisted on a goal by sophomore Christian Okeke.
Goalie Logan Ketterer recorded his first career shutout as Bradley stomped the Thundering Herd 4-0.
Starting his second and third games of the season, Ketterer only allowed one goal in two games. He was named not only tournament defensive most valuable player, but also the Missouri Valley Conference Men’s Soccer Defensive Player of the Week.
Ketterer, who replaced Shay Niemeyer in goal after the game against the University of San Diego, has only allowed two goals in three games and has put himself in prime position to start between the pipes for the majority of the season.
“The nice thing about Logan is that he’s coming with a nice confidence to him,” DeRose said. “He’s taken a lot of pressure off our backs, that’s a nice thing.”
Against Mercer, the Braves found similar success like they did against Marshall. Although it took a little longer for their offense to start up, Okeke made sure that it got on the road with a goal 38 seconds into the second half.
From there Bradley added another, while Mercer tallied one late. But the Braves were able to hold on for a 2-1 victory behind a couple big penalty box saves by Ketterer.
“That was huge inside the penalty box,” DeRose said. “It was a phenomenal save.”
The next stop for DeRose and the Braves is Loyola Soccer Park in Chicago, Illinois, where they will travel to take on the Loyola Ramblers Sept. 27 in their first MVC conference game.
“It doesn’t matter what conference you play in, conference game are difficult, “ DeRose said. “Everything is magnified in conference play.”
