With only one conference win in head coach Tim Regan’s three-year tenure, the Braves hosted Drake on Sunday afternoon and added a second with a 1-0 win.
The Bulldogs also had no conference wins in 2026, drawing four matches in the Missouri Valley Conference and losing one. Meanwhile, Bradley entered 0-3, with losses to UIC, Bowling Green and Belmont, two of which were away.
The first 10 minutes were a feeling-out process for both teams, with only one shot on goal coming from Bradley. In the 12th minute, senior forward Mitch Coughlon was brought down inside the box for a penalty kick, but VAR review removed the chance for an early Braves goal.
The rest of the first half remained defense-oriented, ending 0-0 after 45 minutes, but Drake built momentum in the final 20 minutes, finishing with six shots to Bradley’s four.
Bradley goalkeeper Marçal Salom Chandre ended the half with four saves, tested early by the Bulldogs’ attack. The Barcelona native finished with nine saves in 90 minutes to keep a clean sheet. Drake goalkeeper Tomas Butkovic faced vital situations, but the Australian didn’t record a save in the first half.
The second half brought out the aggressive side of both teams, as Bradley freshman midfielder Liam Healey was booked just 40 seconds after kickoff. The game ended with five yellow cards, four of them given to Drake.
Then, in the 62nd minute, Healey was brought down illegally in the box, this time resulting in a penalty kick. Healey stepped up, slotted the ball into the bottom left corner of the net and sent the keeper the other way.
Ten minutes later, Bradley started another dangerous attack, sending a free kick into the box that eventually found the head of sophomore midfielder Connor Chester near the goal line. After a review confirmed the referee’s original decision, the goal was ruled offside, preventing the Braves from going up 2-0.
Drake then capitalized in the 78th minute on a goal from sophomore forward Landon Benge, but officials disallowed it after a foul by the Bulldogs.
In the final 12 minutes, Drake took three shots, but none were successful, giving Bradley their first conference win of the season and their first win since Sept. 19 against Chicago State.
The Braves have two more games to go before the MVC Tournament, facing Evansville next on Oct. 30 in their final home game of the regular season. Kickoff is at 6 p.m.
