Oct. 17, 2004
Box Score
Chicago, Ill.- Playing without two starters on defense due to injury, the University of Illinois at Chicago soccer team played an outstanding match against the 25th-ranked Memphis Tigers to earn a 1-1 tie at Flames Field on Sunday.
While both Adam Jones and Sam Reindl were unable to play because of leg injuries suffered against UMKC last Wednesday, UIC put up a spirited effort and allowed only one goal in 110 tough minutes of the double-overtime match.
The Flames (3-9-2, 2-2-1 Horizon League) struck first against the nationally-ranked Tigers (9-3-1, 5-1-0 C-USA) on an Eric Cervantes chip off a Kenneth Nightingale pass in the 24th minute. Nightingale made a deceptive feed from the top of the penalty box that found Cervantes, who battled for position in front of the goal and kicked the ball perfectly past Memphis goalkeeper Tyler Strom.
The score marked Cervantes' fifth goal of the year, giving him sole possession of the team lead in the category.
Memphis answered in the 38th minute, as Dayton O'Brien dribbled to the top of the box and fired a laser shot from 30 yards out that was out of the reach of a diving Jeff Engelbrecht.
That was all the scoring in the game, as the defense of both teams took over and prevented any legitimate attacks from converting.
Engelbrecht finished with five saves.
Sunday's contest was a physical affair that saw 36 total fouls and five yellow cards awarded in the game.
UIC caps off their four-match homestand next Sunday against Horizon League rival UW-Green Bay at Flames Field beginning at 1 p.m.
