PEORIA, IL - Grant Bell contributed to multiple goals in the second consecutive game, leading Bradley (6-7-0, 3-0-0 MVC) to a 4-0 win against Missouri State (4-5-3, 1-2-1 MVC) Saturday night at Shea Stadium.

 

Coming on the heels of Bradley's 5-1 win last Saturday at Evansville, Bradley's outburst Saturday night at Shea Stadium gave the Braves nine goals in consecutive Valley games for just the second time in program history.  Bradley scored 10 goals in consecutive games against Creighton (4-1) Oct. 20, 2000 and Drake (5-2) Oct. 22, 2000, but the +8 scoring differential in the last two games is the best-ever in consecutive league games in Bradley's 29-year program history.

 

More importantly, Saturday's victory moved Bradley into a first-place tie with Drake a top the MVC standings, each with nine points on the strength of their 3-0-0 league records.  For the Braves, this is their first 3-0-0 start to the conference season since 2003.

 

Saturday's outburst came against an unlikely foe, as each of the last six games in the series against Missouri State had been decided by 1-0 scores and Bradley had not scored more than one goal against the Bears in exactly 11 years, a 2-2 draw Oct. 17, 2004.  The only other time Bradley had scored more than two goals in the 32 previous matchups against Missouri State was a 4-1 victory Oct. 4, 1992 at Becker Park.

 

Bell got the scoring started for the Braves in the 27th minute, finishing off a chance created by Richard Olson's run down the right flank.  Bell collected Olson's pass at the top of the 18 and beat Missouri State keeper Liam Preistley for his fourth goal of the year at 27:00.

 

Bell, who had two goals and an assist in last week's romp at Evansville, added his sixth assist of the year by helping set up Frank Bak in the 33rd minute.  Bak collected the ball on the right side of the penalty area and appeared to be sending a service back in front of the goal, but the service curled inside the left post for his fourth tally of the year and a 2-0 lead at 32:29.

 

The Braves virtually sealed the outcome in the 61st minute with the goal of the night.  Bak served a corner kick from the right side and defender Jacob Taylor ended his run to the far post with a diving header to slam home his third goal of the year at 60:20.  Bradley kept up the pressure and scored the final goal less than three minutes later when Alex Garcia took control of a poor clearance and ripped a 19-yard shot inside the right post for the 4-0 lead at 63:00.

 

In its fight to battle back, Missouri State outshot the Braves 15-4 in the second half and finished the game with a 22-8 shots advantage, but Bradley keeper Logan Ketterer saved all six of the attempts the visitors directed on target for his fifth shutout of the season.  Bradley put five of its eight shots on frame and Priestly saved only one of those five shots on goal.

 

Bradley will return to action next Saturday by visiting Valley rival Central Arkansas.  The Braves then will close out the home schedule with consecutive games Oct. 31 against SIU Edwardsville and Nov. 2 against Western Michigan at Shea Stadium.