SPRINGFIELD, MO – Jesus Barea scored his first career goal in the 40th minute and Michael Creek made three saves as Missouri Valley Conference preseason favorite Missouri State (1-0) opened the 2021 MVC season with a 3-0 win against visiting Bradley (1-1, 0-1 MVC) Saturday afternoon at Allison South Stadium.
For the first time since 1995, Bradley played a regular-season game without head coach Jim DeRose at the controls. As a precautionary measure in his recovery from COVID-19, DeRose remained in Peoria. Former Bradley All-American Tim Regan, in his fourth year as a Bradley assistant following a successful administrative and coaching run in MLS, USSF and the NASL, led the Braves Saturday at Missouri State.