Oct. 1, 2000

Box Score

Detroit, Mich. - The UIC soccer team kept its nationally-ranked unbeaten streak alive today as it played to a 1-1 tie against the University of Detroit Mercy. The Flames improved to 7-1-2 overall and 2-0-1 in the Midwestern Collegiate Conference while the Titans went to 2-6-1 for the year and 0-2-1 in league play.

UIC, which has not lost in its last nine games with a 7-0-2 record, has the second longest unbeaten streak in the country as it trails just Navy, which hasn't lost in its 10 games this season with a 9-0-1 mark.

In a rematch of last year's MCC championship game, which UIC won, 2-0, Head Coach Sasha Begovic was less than pleased with the outcome of today's game as his team turned in a lackluster performance. The Flames managed 10 shots on the afternoon, including five on goal, but managed to put just one past UDM goalkeeper Michael McAfee.

"We really didn't play all that well this afternoon while Detroit played very hard," Begovic said. "We are a much better team than we showed out there, but unfortunately we played down to their level. We had a lot of scoring chances, but just couldn't finish. It's just a game you want to forget."

Detroit got on the scoreboard first, midway through the first half, as Titans' leading scorer Marcel Flemming got away with a pushing foul as he knocked UIC defender Kevin Brady (Elgin, Ill./St. Charles) as well as goalie Chris Jamal (Palatine, Ill./Palatine) into the goal, along with the ball, for a 1-0 Detroit lead.

The Flames, who were unable to take advantage of five corner kicks in the game, knotted the contest at 1-1 19 minutes into the second half as Greg Chrisman (Bloomingdale, Ill./Glenbard North) came flying down the left side of the field on a breakaway and then passed it to a waiting Ranko Tutulugdzija (Cypress, Calif./Cypress) who fired past McAfee just inside the far post for his first goal of the season.

Heading into overtime, Detroit had two early scoring opportunities as it fired a pair of shots on goal in the first 15 minute extra period, but both were stopped by rookie goalie Scott Greene (Hartland, Mich./Hartland). In the final 15 minute overtime period, it was UIC that put the pressure on, but couldn't connect.

The Detroit defense shut down UIC leading scorer, Eric Lukin (Orland Park, Ill./Sandburg), who, after tallying at least one point in the Flames' last five games, was held without a shot this afternoon.

After playing eight of its first 10 games on the road, UIC will now head home for an extended stay as its next five outings are all at Flames Field. On Friday, Oct. 6, the Flames will look to extend their 20-game home winning streak when they host MCC rival, UW-Green Bay, at 2:00 p.m.