PEORIA, Ill. – Bradley sophomore forward Wojciech Wojcik headed home a golden goal in the 93rd minute, lifting the #27 Braves (9-3-2, 1-1-0 MVC) to a 2-1 Missouri Valley Conference victory versus Southern Illinois-Edwardsville (7-4-3, 1-1-1 MVC) in front of 2,006 Homecoming fans Saturday night at Shea Stadium.

Bradley rallied from a 1-0 halftime deficit, aided by another Sportscenter Top 10 Plays quality strike by senior forward Bryan Gaul, who netted his eighth goal of the year in the 70th minute for the equalizier.  The fifth-largest home crowd in school history witnessed Bradley’s 13th consecutive game decided by no more than one goal.  The Braves improved to 8-3-2 during the streak, which is tied with Siena for the nation’s longest active streak of games decided by no more than one goal.

In a rematch of the 2010 State Farm MVC Tournament championship game, which saw Bradley prevail in penalty kicks after a scoreless draw, the Cougars got on the board first when Jack Twellman converted a penalty kick for his ninth goal of the season at 29:35.

After SIUE outshot Bradley 8-5 in the first half, the Braves provided steady pressure after the break and finished the game with a 20-12 offensive advantage.

On the end of one Bradley’s pressure possessions, senior forward Christian Meza won the race to a cleared ball about 30 yards from the goal and dumped a return volley up to the top of the box.  Gaul initially headed the ball back up and an SIUE defender headed it right back to the Hermann Trophy candidate.  Gaul collected on his right foot and popped it up to himself for a right-footed side volley, which he sent through traffic past diving Cougars keeper Scott Meyer inside the left post at 69:24.

Wojik’s winner came on the first real challenge by either team in the overtime session.  Meza possessed the ball in the center of the park midway into Bradley’s offensive end and pushed the ball out wide to sophomore forward Ross Williams on the left flank.  Williams carried the ball down the sideline to the 18, then lofted a service into the 6-yard box, where the 6-foot-3 Wojcik rose above the crowd and headed home his second game-winner of the season at 92:23.

The Braves will continue their season-long, 4-game home stand Wednesday when they host nationally-ranked Creighton in a 7 p.m. Valley clash at Shea Stadium.  Single-game tickets for Bradley Soccer regular-season games at Shea Stadium are $6 for adults, $3 for youth (K-12) and free for Bradley University students, faculty and staff, as well as active members of the military and their immediate families, all presenting valid identification.

The game against the rival Bluejays will follow the soccer team’s annual Gameday Luncheon Wednesday at Renaissance Coliseum.  Head coaches Jim DeRose and Elmar Bolovich, both national coach-of-the-year award winners, will address Wednesday’s luncheon crowd.  For more information on Wednesday’s luncheon, visit:

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