The Bradley soccer team is starting a new season with high expectations after winning 1-0 against Nebraska-Omaha last Thursday.
Even after losing a program-defining player in Gerit Wintermeyer, Bradley started the season on the right foot. Head coach Jim DeRose knows the importance that Wintermeyer had in the past, and will make some adjustments to the team’s game philosophy for the future.
“Without him, we have to do something different, it’s a different team on top,” DeRose said. “We are not as big, strong and great in the air. Let’s face it, it has to be that way, because Gerit was special.”
After the departure of many stars, DeRose believes that it is a unique opportunity to start a winning project with the young talent the team has. With only two upperclassmen on the roster, some of the young players will have to step up and take important roles on the team.
During the first few weeks of the preseason, some players excelled and have shown the potential to be the incoming stars of the team for years to come.
“Michael Rogalski seems to be the guy to keep an eye on,” DeRose said. “Also Patrick [Fishburne] and Danny [Collins].”
Of all the players, Rogalski, a freshman, had the opportunity to play minutes in the first game of the season. For DeRose, there are three qualities that help players succeed and Rogalski has them all.
“[Rogalski] has what I called the 33 percent: 33 percent good instinct, 33 percent good technical ability and 33 percent good aggression and desire to win the ball,” DeRose said. “He elevated himself literally within the first hours and days of preseason. We are really excited about his future.”
Another important part of the new soccer project is having a solid defense. DeRose believes that having a compact and high quality defense will help the team’s performance during the season.
“Jackson Fyda, Jack Armitage, Erik Catus, Jake Schoffstall and Jack Douglas. That group is going to make up the spine and backbone of our back four.” DeRose said.
These players will be important pieces for the team as they look to control the ball and build the attack from the back. DeRose hopes to build a team that creates a high pressure and makes opposing conference foes uncomfortable.
“Whether we are pressing high on the field or setting a line to press, it’s going to be all about defensive pressure,” DeRose said. “There will be times that we have to sit in but we’ll hopefully take the fight up the field down the attacking side of the ball because we are young.”
Bradley’s lone senior Bryce Logan, who transferred from Washington last year, will perhaps be the most important asset for the Braves this season.
During the spring season, Logan took home first-team All-MVC honors as well as MVC Goalkeeper of the Year. Adding to his list of accolades, the Braves goalkeeper was a Preseason All-MVC selection for the upcoming campaign.
Coming off of a season affected by COVID-19 and having another young roster, the Braves are ready to return to normalcy both on the field and in the win column and they proved it after Thursday’s season-opening victory. Fourteen out of the 22 times that Bradley has won the first game of the season, they have gone on to win at least 10 games.
DeRose sent a message to everybody planning to watch the Braves on the pitch this season.
“Especially at home, Bradley will play for the name in front of the shirt,” DeRose said. “If you come watch us, the message is ‘They play hard, they are going to run, they are going to work, they are going to be exciting, fast, dynamic and they are going to represent the university well.’”
