Sept. 11, 2004

Wilmington, N.C.- If the weather was any indication, today's make-up game between the University of Illinois at Chicago soccer team and host UNC Wilmington was going to be dreary for one of the two teams.

Unfortunately, the Flames bore the brunt of a scoring downpour by the Seahawks as UIC dropped a 4-1 match at the Adidas-Home Stay Inn Seahawk Soccer Classic at a rainy UNCW Soccer Stadium on Saturday morning.

In a game that was supposed to be played on Friday night but was postponed until today due to heavy storms, UIC (0-4-0) could not stop a Seahawk offense that produced four goals and a win for undefeated UNCW (4-0-0).

Freshman Stipan Vedric scored the first goal of his career in the 89th minute, taking a Nick Sutter pass in front of the net and flashing it past UNCW keeper Brad Nighton. Sutter's assist, which was the freshman's first career point, marked the first helper on a UIC goal in 2004.

Rookie Jeff Engelbrecht, the Horizon League leader in saves, added 13 stops to his credit but allowed four scores in the process.

Nighton made two saves for the Seahawks.

UNC Wilmington took the early lead in the 23rd minute when Russell Bienias took a Chris Murray pass and headed the ball past Engelbrecht for his third goal of the season.

The scoring stopped until the 71st minute, when the Seahawks went up 2-0 on a Sam Leger score. 17 minutes later UNC Wilmington padded their lead on Adam Currey's goal.

After Vedric's goal cut the Flames' deficit down to 3-1, Leger scored his second goal of the game in the 90th minute to put the game well out of reach.

Forwards Tonci Skroce and Kenneth Nightingale each took two shots to lead the team, with each attempting a shot against goal on the slick field.

UIC will play Jacksonville on Sunday in their second game at the Adidas-Home Stay Inn Seahawk Soccer Classic. Play begins at 11:00 a.m.