Late Goal Earns Draw for DePaul at Bradley

Thursday, August 20

Peoria, Ill.

6:00 PM

DePaul University

0-0-1, 0-0-0

Bradley

0-0-1, 0-0-0

Team	1	2	Final F
DePaul	1	1	2
Bradley	0	2	2

8/20/2026 9:01:00 PM | MEN'S SOCCER

Box Score Box Score (PDF)

Blue Demons erase second-half deficit with 86th-minute equalizer in season-opening draw

PEORIA, Ill. – In a back and forth affair, DePaul men's soccer battled back from a one-goal second-half deficit on a strike in the final five minutes to draw 2-2 on the road at Bradley in the 2026 season opener.

After junior forward Luca Iaccino opened the scoring in the 33rd minute, the Blue Demons led for just over 37 minutes until Bradley scored a pair of goals in a three-minute span to claim the lead and turn the tide of the contest. DePaul responded in kind, turning a Braves misfire into an opportunity in the final five minutes with Noeh Hernandez and Daniel Hickiewicz finding freshman forward Mason Kutch for a late equalizer.

How It Happened
The Blue Demons were the aggressors early on, firing three shots in the first five minutes. DePaul kept banging on the door with shots on frame from Jayden Waski and Tyler Flowers before Iaccino broke through in the 33rd minute. Godden played the ball central and left it off for Jordan Clagette who lifted the ball in and found the head of a charging Iaccino who got just enough to find the back of the net and give DePaul the early lead.

The Blue Demons led 1-0 at the intermission behind a dominant 9-1 margin in shots in the first 45 minutes.

Bradley responded at the onset of the second stanza, threatening with a free kick opportunity just outside the box followed by a pair of second chance efforts that missed wide. The sides then traded empty corner kick chances before DePaul regained control of the run of play.

DePaul remained on the front foot in the middle of the half, with Liam Mullins setting up Daniel Hickiewicz for a great look at point blank range in the 66th before it was sent wide for a Braves goal kick. But Bradley flipped the momentum, evening the match in the 71st minute via a scrambled play in the box with freshman Liam Healey firing a shot off balance past DePaul's keeper Hayden Vostal. The Braves didn't take long to add to their tally, with Mitch Coughlon netting the go-ahead goal on a breakaway counter attack to give the home team a 2-1 advantage in the 74th minute.

After regaining possession off a Braves throw in, Hickiewicz switched the field to find Hernandez who in turn sent the ball into the box for Kutch to find the far post and knot the score at 2-2 in the 86th minute.

Match Notes

Seven Blue Demons made their Blue Demon debuts, as Quinn Bedwell, Matt Eger, Christian Dionne, Scott Godden, Chase Hassfurther, Mason Kutch and Ronan Selbo all saw their first minutes in a DePaul uniform.
It marked the second career assist for both Jordan Clagette and Scott Godden.
Iaccino's 33rd-minute strike was the fourth goal of his career.
Hernandez notched his 12th assist of his collegiate career on the late goal while Hickiewicz tallied his first helper in three seasons with the Blue Demons.
Hernandez's assist also moved him into a tie for 13th on DePaul's all-time points list with 44 points.
The Blue Demons are 1-1-2 versus the Braves in the last four meetings after battling to a 2-2 draw in Peoria a season ago.
DePaul moved to 3-2-4 in season openers in Mark Plotkin's nine-year tenure.

Up Next
DePaul will hit the road to Columbus, Ohio, Monday, Aug. 24 to tangle with Ohio State. Kickoff versus the Buckeyes is set for 6 p.m. CT. The non-conference tilt will be streamed on B1G+.

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