Sept. 17, 2003

Box Score

Chicago, Ill.- After opening the 2003 campaign with a record-setting five-game win streak, the UIC men's soccer team was handed its first loss of the season on Wednesday by dropping a tough battle with city-rival Loyola, 2-0, at Flames Field.

UIC (5-1, 0-1 in Horizon League) was unable to get anything going on offense, taking only two shots on goal against the Ramblers. Loyola (3-1-2) took seven shots, netting two of them to take the victory and improve to 1-1 in league play.

The Ramblers got on the board early in the second period, when Constantine Melitas capitalized on a Chris Berena turnover near the UIC goal and knocked in an unassisted score past Flames keeper Ross Cain in the 48th minute.

Loyola clinched the victory with an insurance goal by Eric Spies, who booted his own deflected shot off of Cain in the 88th minute.

The Flames had two close opportunities to score but could not cash in. Senior Dennis King's shot on goal was wide left in the 63rd minute, while Eric Cervantes header attempt to put Nate Day's deflected shot past Ramblers keeper Greg Stellatos went off the crossbar in the 83rd minute.

The loss ended the Flames five-game unbeaten streak to open the season, a UIC school record.

UIC is back in action this Saturday, September 20th, as the Flames take on Cleveland State in Cleveland, Ohio at 3 p.m.