For everything Bradley’s soccer team accomplishes this season, looking back years from now will still be difficult.

On Aug. 12, redshirt freshman Danny Dahlquist died in a house fire in his off-campus house only six days before the team’s scheduled Red-White Scrimmage.

Dahlquist was 18 years old, battling for a starting spot on the Bradley soccer team and an honor roll student at the time of his sudden death.

The scrimmage was canceled and the entire Bradley community rallied around the team and the Dalhquist family during the grieving process.

Through the death of their teammate, Bradley has looked to Dahlquist for inspiration this season.

“This year has been difficult,” said Bradley head coach Jim DeRose. “However, we are proud of what we have accomplished so far. We have a great group of guys that are inspired to play with every ounce of what they have, like Danny.”

The Braves have been successful this season with a 10-4-3 record and a 2-0-2 record in Missouri Valley Conference play. The team is second in the MVC behind Creighton.

“Before the season we said it would be a disservice if we used Danny as motivation,” DeRose said. “However, we will always look for him all year for inspiration.”

DeRose had known Dahlquist since he was 8 years old and remembers him as a hard worker who always paid attention to detail.

“Danny was always the fittest,” DeRose said. “He was always the most attentive to detail. He may have not been the most skilled, but he always worked the hardest.”

DeRose said this quality is also true of his team.

“We may not always be the most talented team,” DeRose said. “But we always go out there and work our hardest, just like Danny.”

The team honors Dahlquist in a private way with symbols on their jerseys that are private to the players and his family.

Eastern head coach Adam Howarth said that Bradley’s success has a lot to do with their coach.

“I think it’s a testament of Jim and what he has been able to do under such terrible circumstances,” Howarth said. “I have a huge amount of respect for him as a coach and a person. I think how well his team is playing right now shows he is a good coach.”

Eastern (10-4-3, 2-2-1) will play Bradley (10-4-3, 2-0-2) in its final home game this season 2 p.m. Saturday at Lakeside Field.