SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – Seniors James Pendrigh (Canterbury, New Zealand) and Mueng Sunday (Coralville, Iowa) each scored a goal for the Drake University men's soccer team in a 2-0 win over Bradley Tuesday afternoon in the play-in game of the 2016 Missouri Valley Conference Tournament held on the campus of Missouri State University.
 
Drake improved to 6-11-1 with its third win of the season over Bradley who dropped to 2-15-3 with the loss as the Braves' season comes to an end. The sixth-seeded Bulldogs advance to Wednesday's quarterfinals match, where they will play three seed Evansville at 3 p.m.
 
Pendrigh scored Drake's first goal, capitalizing on a foul by Bradley just outside of the penalty box, in the 26^th minute (26:02). Redshirt senior Ben LeMay (Hugo, Minn.) was fouled and the Bulldogs were awarded a free kick. Senior James Wypych (Wellington, New Zealand) and Pendrigh ran a set piece on the free kick from 20 yards out as Wypych took the initial run at the ball but went over it as Pendrigh followed and fired a strike that curved around the Braves' wall into the top corner for his first goal of the season.
 
The Bulldogs added a very late goal after Bradley goalkeeper Logan Keester earned a red card after a hard foul on Drake freshman Antonio Sanchez (Coralville, Iowa) in the Braves' penalty box. Sanchez had a 1v1 with Ketterer after the Braves put all their men up front trying for the equalizer as Sanchez was taken out by Ketterer. Senior Mueng Sunday (Coralville, Iowa) buried the penalty kick past backup goalie Nathan Wisbey to put the game away for the Bulldogs.
 
"We are delighted with today's performance and result," said head coach Gareth Smith. "It is never easy to play against Bradley so to win 2-0 and maintain a clean sheet is very positive. I was happy with our concentration levels on both sides of the ball. We were intense, intentional and resolute with our defending, especially on set play. We also showed good creativity and quality in the attacking third. Pendrigh's free kick is a special moment to give us the lead and Sanchez showed real quality to counter and beat the goalkeeper for the PK."
 
Drake finished with 12 shots, including three on goal. Redshirt senior goalkeeper Darrin MacLeod (Waterloo, Ontario) finished with two saves.
 
"Overall a very positive and professional performance by our guys and we look forward to the quarterfinal tomorrow," Smith said.
 
The win over Bradley sets up a matchup with Evansville who rallied for a 4-3 win in the regular season meeting between the teams on Oct. 22 in Des Moines. Drake leads the all-time series with the Purple Aces, 15-12-2. Wednesday's quarterfinals match will be broadcast on The Valley On ESPN3.