From tragedy to triumph

Outside the entrance of Indiana University's Armstrong Stadium, numerous names are etched into bricks leading up to the gates.

One of said bricks features the name of Floyds Knobs’ Brad Snook. It's accompanied by the names of his dad Bob - a well known referee in the area - mother and teacher Peggy; and sister Meredith, also a referee and soccer coach.

With the exception of Brad, all attended IU. Buying a brick was a token of the family's appreciation for time spent there, you could say.

After viewing the brick late last Wednesday night, junior Brad thought it pretty ironic that his Bradley University from central Illinois had just caused the wall of No. 4 Hoosiers to come tumbling down after booting them out of the NCAA Division 1 Men's Soccer Tournament following a thrilling penalty shoot-out.

Three days later, in the Sweet 16, the Braves took on 2005 winners Maryland in their own backyard and found themselves 2-0 down at the interval.

Reflecting over the likes of coffee and hot chocolate on a cool, crisp evening, the fans agreed the run had exceeded expectations. Reaching round three was a triumph in itself.

Firstly, because the school's program had never gone this far before - in fact, it had never won an NCAA game before 2007. And secondly, because of the adversity the squad has endured this season, which has already made this one of the most poignant sports stories of 2007.

The death of 19-year-old sophomore to be, Sheridan "Danny" Dahlquist, following a house fire on August 12 is a tragedy that has already been chronicled in these pages.
Four friends - three of them Bradley team mates - have been charged with aggravated arson in what amounted to a prank with Roman candles which went wrong. Their trial is scheduled for January.

"Spirited" is a word that has oft been used to describe Bradley's soccer team this season but it doesn't tell the whole tale. The way it has responded to tragedy in a sport that has witnessed recent match fixing scandals and is awash with overpaid prima donnas the world over is already one to warm the cockles of the heart and renew our faith in the beautiful game.

Coach Jim DeRose described it best when saying the players have not stopped mourning, but have found a refuge in soccer which brings them together.

They don't go out and tritely "do it for Danny." They play together in his memory and use the strength Danny's family has shown as inspiration, adding it to their own. Dad Craig is a senior associate athletic director at Bradley and is a familiar face at games, always offering encouragement to the squad. There wasn't a dry eye in the house in when he received Danny's medal after their first Missouri Valley Conference Tournament success, a 1-0 victory over Creighton.

That win, added to a share of its third consecutive MVC championship, ensured an automatic NCAA berth and saw the appropriately named Braves end with a regular season record of 14-5-3.

Following a comprehensive 2-0 victory over De Paul in round one of the NCAA tournament, it was handed the unenviable task of taking on seven times winners and No. 4 ranked Indiana in round two last Wednesday. One goal down after just 97 seconds, it fought back with a second half Stephen Brust effort to tie the game and force it into overtime.

After two scoreless halves of overtime, the game went to a penalty shootout, with Bradley converting all five of its attempts. Standing at 5-4, Indiana freshman Michael Roach's effort smashed off the crossbar. Bradley were off to Maryland.

And so back to Ludwig Field. Despite an improved second-half effort by Bradley, it remained 2-0 to the Terrapins with the scoreboard showing just three minutes left on the clock. Then, Drew DeGurian blasted home a rebound at the edge of the box to offer the Braves a glimmer of hope.

With the momentum shifting in Bradley's direction, and with 37 seconds left of regulation, Chris Cutshaw of Carmel headed home to complete an improbable comeback to tie the game at 2-2, sending fans delirious.

If you believe in fate, in the romance that is sometimes thrown up by cup competition, this was only going one way. And so it proved. With 75 seconds remaining in the second overtime and the game heading towards penalty kicks, Cutshaw netted a golden goal, which he believes glanced off his shoulder. Maryland screamed for handball but their pleas were in vain. Bradley was on its way to the Elite Eight.

Following a late night return flight back to Peoria, a police escort took the team back to campus. Arriving at the Field House at 12.40am, the band and cheerleaders - who all stayed on after a basketball game - were joined by students and community members to welcome them home.

Brad Snook described the trip back as just the latest journey in what has been a "heck of a ride" - one they don't want to end.

"From the worst thing that could possibly happen right before preseason, to now, the whole story has been pretty incredible," said the Floyd Central graduate.. "More than any other team I've been a part of, this team plays for the guys next to them, and we never stop battling and fighting."

The defender, who has witnessed playing time in defense this season but still awaits NCAA action, said he has never been a part of a soccer game quite like the one now dubbed in some quarters as the “Miracle in Maryland.”

"We said at half time that once we got a goal - whether it be in the 46th minute or the 88th minute - that we had a chance," he said. "So once that first one went it, you could feel Maryland getting nervous. The crowd quieted down, and the players' attitudes changed. When that second one went it with only 37 seconds on the clock it was complete pandemonium."

And so this amazing story continues, with next stop Sunday at Jesse Owens Stadium in Columbus (1 p.m.). Standing in the way of a place in the 2007 College Cup in North Carolina will be No.5 seeds Ohio State. The Buckeyes made it to the quarter-finals in exciting fashion too, coming from 3-1 down against last year's winners Santa Barbara to tie the game at 3-3 before snatching the winner in overtime.

"We know now that we can beat anyone in the country," said Snook. "We're just soaking it all in and enjoying every minute of it because we know how lucky we are to be able to experience it."

Describing it as a "phenomenal year" for Bradley - one that's gone "from tragedy to great triumph” - Maryland head coach Sasho Cirovski compared Cutshaw's winner to the "Hand of God" incident during the Argentina-England 1986 World Cup quarter-final. That was when Diego Maradona fisted the ball into the net and proceeded to tell the world that supernatural forces were at work. Argentina went on to win the tournament.

DeRose, I am sure, wouldn't for one second entertain the idea of "magical" or "alternative" forces at play: It's hard toil, perseverance, heart, team work and talent that gets you this far.

But there were many in Maryland and Peoria late Saturday night that just wondered if there was an added ingredient.