PEORIA, Ill. –  Three is certainly the charm for Bryan Gaul (Naperville, Ill./Neuqua Valley H.S.) and the Bradley men’s soccer team.  The MAC Hermann Trophy candidate scored in the 95th minute for his third game-winner in as many games, leading the host Braves to their first 3-0 start since 2000 with a 2-1 victory against in-state rival Eastern Illinois (1-1-0) Thursday night at Shea Stadium.

Taking advantage of a deflection that kept his midfield run alive, Bradley defender Mike Hnat made a bold rush deep into the right side of the Panthers penalty area and centered to Gaul on the 6-yard box.  The Bradley forward needed several touches, but his persistence paid off and he finally beat EIU keeper Evan Turner with a flick inside the right post for the winner at 94:50.  The reigning men’s college soccer national player of the week, Gaul also scored the game-winning goals last week at Butler and IPFW and pushed his season total to nine points on four goals and and an assist.

To his credit, Turner kept the Panthers in the game midway through the second half when he made a diving, one-handed stop at the left post to keep a Keith Mach 20-yard laser out of the net in the 64th minute, preserving a 1-1 tie.

Though Bradley pressured their visitors from the opening kick, Eastern Illinois withstood the early onslaught and broke through for the game’s first goal in the 28th minute.  Spencer Filosa took possession about 40 yards out on the right flank and sprung Garet Christianson into the Braves back line.  Christianson beat a pair of Bradley defenders off the dribble, then shot across the goal mouth by Braves keeper Brian Billings for his first tally of the year at 27:52.

Bradley wasted little time pulling even, however, netting the equalizer in the 32nd minute.  Gaul started the goal-scoring play by hitting a laser from the left flank into the center of the box.  An Eastern Illinois defender was unable to clear the hard liner and his mishit fell directly to Christian Meza’s feet.  Unmarked, Meza calmly took control of the ball and slotted a shot between Turner’s legs for his second goal of the season at 31:27.

Bradley’s backline recovered from the early miscue and allowed only two more shots on goal the rest of the night, both in the second half.  Billings made both saves, one with a diving stop of a Ryan Child blast in the 74th minute.

Bradley will return to action Saturday night when it hosts Green Bay in a 7 p.m. game at Shea Stadium.

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