Box Score

PEORIA, IL – Second-seeded Central Arkansas battled host third-seeded Bradley to a 1-1 draw in the Missouri Valley Conference Semifinals on Friday night with the Bears advancing to the championship via penalty kicks, 8-7. The Braves finish their season with an 11-7-3 record, while the Bears are now 8-10-1.
 
After 110 minutes of action (with 109:24 of it played tied), each team successfully made their first seven penalty kicks – twice the Bears barely escaping and the ball just trickling past the goal line. However, after Central Arkansas made their eighth attempt, Bradley saw its shot ring off the crossbar, advancing the Bears to the title game.
 
Bradley grabbed the lead in the 22nd minute when freshman Gerit Wintermeyer tallied his sixth goal of the season. The rookie finished off a long throw-in from senior Jacob Taylor at the near post for the 1-0 lead.
 
However, the BU advantage would only last 36 seconds as Central Arkansas quickly tied the game. Niklas Brodacki buried a rebound opportunity for the 1-1 contest, scoring his NCAA-leading 16th goal of the season.
 
The Bears held a 16-13 advantage in shots on the night, while the Braves had all six corner kicks in the game.
 
While the Braves’ season comes to end, it comes after an 8.5 game improvement from a season ago making Bradley currently the most improved team in the country.

Central Arkansas will play in its first ever MVC title match looking for the school's first trip to the NCAA Tournament.