Peoria City to Face Bradley, Northwestern in Preseason Games
(APRIL 21, 2025 | PEORIA, IL) – For the first time in the club’s history, Peoria City will prepare for its USL League Two season by playing a pair of college opponents in the CEFCU College Series at Shea Stadium.
As the Flying Carp work to defend their 2024 USL League Two Central Conference championship and national runner-up finish, Peoria City will take on Missouri Valley Conference member Bradley in the Shea Classic Saturday, April 26 and will follow with a Saturday, May 3 matchup against Big Ten Conference program Northwestern. Both games in the CEFCU College Series are part of the Peoria City 2025 men’s team and bundled season-ticket packages and are slated for 3:00 p.m. start times at Bradley’s Shea Stadium (1523 W. Nebraska Avenue).
Both CEFCU College Series opponents sport strong Peoria City connections, adding to the fun of the two games. Peoria City’s 2025 roster includes current Bradley student-athletes Mitch Coughlon, DJ Koulai and Kevin Mejias and all three are expected to play against the Flying Carp April 26. Returning Peoria City captain Charlie Dickerson completed his Bradley career in the fall, but he will not be available to suit up for the Carp April 26. Northwestern’s lineup will feature returning Peoria City defender and Peoria native Fritz Volmar.
In addition to the player connections, Northwestern assistant coach JR DeRose is the son of Peoria City president Jim DeRose and a former star keeper at Peoria Notre Dame High School, while fellow Wildcats assistant Ronnie Bouemboue was an assistant coach for DeRose at Bradley for two seasons (2013-14). Bouemboue helped the Braves to the 2013 Missouri Valley Conference Tournament championship and the second round of the NCAA Tournament, a season further highlighted, ironically, by a pair of wins at nationally-ranked Northwestern.
Single-game tickets for both games, as well as Peoria City season tickets, are on sale online at PeoriaCitySoccer.com/tickets with single-game ticket prices starting at just $6. Bradley University students, faculty and staff may receive free admission for the April 26 game featuring the Braves by presenting valid University ID at the main gate.
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