Boxscore

Thanks to a 5-4 edge in the shootout following 110 minutes of scoreless soccer, Bradley University advanced to the State Farm Missouri Valley Conference Men's Soccer Tournament semifinals Thursday night over the host University of Evansville Purple Aces.

The Braves take a 6-11-2 record into Friday's 7:30 semifinal match against top seed Creighton, the nation's number two ranked team.  Evansville is now 9-7-2. Friday's other semifinal, at 5:00, pits second seed Drake against third seed Missouri State.

Thursday's match goes into the record books as a tie, but it doesn't feel that way for either team in a match that ended in dramatic fashion.  Evansville dominated regulation, and at one time had a 23-10 advantage in total shots.  UE finished with 10 shots on goal compared to five by the Braves.  But neither squad could find the back of the net through the first 110 minutes, leading to best-of-5 penalty kicks.

With Alec Dufty in goal for Evansville and Drew Van Kampen in goal for the Braves, Bradley led off the shootout with a goal by Rudy Garcia that was matched on the next shot by Evansville's Kieran Purcell.  Grant Campbell put the Braves up 2-1, only to have Richard Menjivar tie it up at 2-2.  Bradley took a 3-2 advantage on Travis English's goal, but Dan Gibson came right back with a rocket to make it 3-3.  Paul Tracy gave the Braves a 4-3 advantage before Kipp Erskine tied the shootout at 4-4.  Bradley's Chris Cutshaw then made Bradley's fifth goal, and it turned out to be the game-winner when the shot by Evansville's Tyler Crawford hit the crossbar and came back onto the field of play.

Despite the setback, Evansville is guaranteed of its third straight winning season in the three years that Mike Jacobs has been head coach.  It's the first time since 1994 through 1996 that the Aces have produced three straight winning seasons.  

Earlier in the day, nine Aces were chosen for all-Missouri Valley Conference honors.  Sophomore forward Mike Luttrull was chosen first team all-MVC.  Making the second unit were senior defender Kipp Erskine, junior defender Reggie Edu, sophomore midfielder Robby Lynch, sophomore forward Tom Irvin and freshman midfielder Richard Menjivar.  Senior goalkeeper Alec Dufty was an honorable mention selection.  Making the All-Freshman Team were Menjivar, and forwards Tyler Crawford and Tad Kreamalmeyer.