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The Missouri Valley Conference turned in a collective 4-3-2 (.556) record in non-conference action last week. Bradley improved to 5-0-2 on the season with a win over Purdue Fort Wayne, while Missouri State beat UMKC to move to 4-0-2. Drake claimed its third win over a Top 25 opponent, beating #23 Tulsa 2-1 in overtime, and Loyola blanked SIUE 2-0 on the road.
This coming week will feature a trio of MVC contests Saturday as well as two non-conference matches.
Another Top 25 Win
Drake claimed a 2-1 overtime win over #23 ranked Tulsa on Saturday, earning the fourth Top 25 win for MVC men’s soccer this season. The Valley holds a 4-2 record against Top 25 teams this season. On Friday, Evansville will welcome #2 Indiana to Arad McCutchan Stadium. The Aces have won their last three matchups against ranked opponents at home. The last time the MVC claimed five wins over Top 25 foes was in 2013, going 5-8-1 vs. the Top 25.
MVC Men’s Soccer Top 25 Wins (2018)
Drake: 2-1 win at #9 Butler on 8-27
Drake: 3-1 win vs. #20 UIC on 8-31
Evansville: 1-0 (OT) win vs. #17 Grand Canyon on 9/8
Drake: 2-1 (OT) win at #23 Tulsa on 9/15
Wins Over Top 10 Non-Conference Teams
by Current MVC Members
08-27-18 Drake beat #9 Butler, 2-1
09-09-16 Loyola beat #8 Utah Valley*, 2-0
10-02-13 Bradley beat #3 Northwestern, 3-2 (OT)
09-14-13 Bradley beat #1 UConn, 1-0
09-11-13 Evansville beat #6 Saint Louis, 2-1 (OT)
09-09-11 Bradley beat #8 USF, 2-1 (OT)
09-19-02 Bradley beat #5 Notre Dame, 3-2
*TopDrawerSoccer.com Poll
Braves are Streaking
Through Sunday’s action across the country, Bradley’s 12-game unbeaten streak ranked as the third-longest such streak in the country … With Stanford (21) and Denver (15) leading the pack, Bradley’s 12-game ride since last October is the longest unbeaten streak by any team east of the Rocky Mountains.
Improved Offense
Missouri State has kicked off the 2018 season on an offensive high note. Recording 14 goals in the first six matches, while in 2017 MSU only saw 15 goals all season. MSU paces the MVC in points (39), goals (14) and assists (11).
Poll Position
Bradley is receiving votes in this week’s College Soccer News poll and United Soccer Coaches poll, following a win over Purdue Fort Wayne.
MVC in Regional Rankings
The MVC has three teams currently ranked in the latest United Soccer Coaches West Regional rankings released on Tuesday (Sept. 18). Bradley sits No. 4 in the region, while Missouri State (5th) and Drake (8) also appear in the poll.
National Team of the Week
Loyola’s Josh Lagudah earned a spot as the goalkeeper on this week’s 11-member College Soccer News Team of the Week, earning a shutout during a 2-0 win over SIUE.
Climbing the Charts
With his goal against Saint Louis on Sunday night, UCA junior Niklas Brodacki now has 34 goals for his career, which ties him for third-most in program history, four back of second place and 14 off the lead. Brodacki, who already holds the Bears’ Division I record for goals, currently ranks fifth in points (74), fourth in game-winning goals (9), is tied for second in penalty kicks made (5), and holds the program record for points per game (1.68) and goals per game (0.77). He is the current active NCAA leader in points per game (1.66) and goals per game (0.77).
Against the Field
The MVC holds a winning record against seven leagues in non-conference play (American, Horizon, Ivy, Summit, Sun Belt, West Coast and WAC) and at least a .500 mark against the Big West and Southern.
Against the 2017 NCAA Field
The Valley has won three matches against 2017 NCAA Tournament teams. Drake beat Butler and UIC, while Missouri State beat Omaha. The MVC sits 3-3-4 against NCAA tourney teams from a year ago with seven more chances on the schedule.
This week's Missouri Valley Conference Players of the Week are Missouri State's Josh Dolling and Loyola's Josh Lagudah.
MISSOURI VALLEY CONFERENCE OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Josh Dolling, So., F, Missouri State
Josh Dolling unleased an historic night for the Missouri State men’s soccer team against Santa Clara, helping the Bears to a 3-2 victory. In the double overtime thriller, Dolling recorded all three goals for the Bears, including the game winner at the 107-minuite mark, finishing off the first hat trick match for a MSU men’s soccer athlete since Sept. 9, 2005. His second goal of the night made Sports Center’s Top-10, checking in at No. 3. Dolling added his fourth goal of the week and seventh of the season against UMKC on Saturday. Dolling ended the week with four goals and one assist in two games. The Liverpool, United Kingdom native leads the Missouri Valley Conference in points (15), goals (7) and game winning goals (3). He is also ranked in the top-five nationally in game-winning-goals, goals per game, shots on goal per game and total goals.
Other Notable Performances: Younes Dayekh (BRAD); Cole Poppen (DU); Ben Weber (UE); Aidan Megally (LUC)
MISSOURI VALLEY CONFERENCE DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Josh Lagudah, Jr., GK, Loyola
Loyola junior Josh Lagudah made his first official start since August 27 and notched his second-straight shutout to help guide Loyola to a 2-0 win over SIUE. The junior goalkeeper recorded eight saves, the most by a Rambler in a match since Tim Dobrowolski had 11 against Drake back on Oct. 11, 2014. Lagudah was faced with constant pressure all night, with the Cougars compiling 20 shots in addition to Lagudah’s eight saves - both season highs for the Maroon and Gold. The Australia native’s two consecutive shutouts marked the first time a Loyola goalkeeper kept the net clear in two consecutive starts since Andrew Chekadanov logged two on Oct. 18-22, 2016.
Other Notable Performances: John Pollifrone (BRAD); Cole Poppen (DU); Jake Laird (MSU); Nacho Miras (VALPO)