Oct. 11, 2000

Box Score

When two crosstown rivals meet, you can pretty much throw their records out the window because they mean nothing when bragging rights are at stake.

That held true Wednesday afternoon as the UIC soccer team and winless DePaul Blue Demons battled at Flames Field, with UIC coming out victorious, 3-2.

The Flames, who improved to 9-2-2 for the year, were able to hold off a second-half surge by DePaul, 0-11-0, for their fifth straight win over the Blue Demons and fourth of the season at home.

UIC struck early in the game as rookie Dennis King slipped a Nick Dudziak rebound past a diving Jash Chavero into the right corner of the net in the 12th minute of the first half.

After taking the 1-0 lead into the halftime break, the Flames extended their advantage to a two-goal margin just 3:55 into the second half as Jakob Stasko headed in his seventh goal of the season, with assists going to Kevin Brady and Ranko Tutulugdzija.

The Blue Demons, however, caught some life in the 67th minute as Travis Brown managed to catch UIC goalie Jeff Kusiciel out of position for his third goal of the year, cutting the Flames' lead in half, 2-1.

UIC, however, upped its lead once again to a two-goal margin at the 78:52 mark when Stasko found the net for his second goal of the game as he headed in a Jay DeMerit rebound.

But DePaul didn't waver despite the two-goal deficit once again as Chris Greer scored for the Blue Demons in the 85th minute when he headed in a beautiful crossing pass from Sean Fitzpatrick from six yards out.

The Flames, who enjoyed a 24-10 shot advantage, held on down the stretch, though, to give starting goalie Scott Greene his third win of the year. Greene, who made four first-half saves, played 62 minutes in the victory.

UIC returns to action on Friday, Oct. 13, against yet another crosstown opponent, Northwestern, when the Wildcats visit Flames Field at 4:00 p.m.