Dec. 12, 2005
In 2005 the University of Illinois at Chicago men's soccer program didn't just complete an impressive turnaround on the field following a 5-12-2 season.
They created a championship-caliber culture rarely felt at Flames Field in previous years, a level of expectation that reached the heights of the famed skyline that drapes UIC's home turf.
UIC doubled its win total of a year ago, going 10-5-2 in 2005, and gave Flames fans hope for a long future of NCAA postseason play with a season of highlights that rekindled memories of the school's 1999 and 2000 NCAA Tournament teams.
Led by first-year head coach John Trask, who came to UIC with a pedigree soaked in excellence, the same young core that struggled to muster five victories a season ago learned how to play an exciting, successful brand of soccer that produced a collection of accomplishments and experiences that give the Flames a chance to be a force in conference, regional and national play in 2006 and beyond.
Despite a loss in the Horizon League quarterfinals, Trask and his coaches were proud with the team's play in 2005.
"I was very pleased with the way the season went as a whole," said Trask. "The staff was pleased that we were able to compete in every game and play some good soccer in the process.
"The staff feels that the strides made from last winter until now were pretty impressive."
Here's a look back at the slew of positive developments that have occurred in the past 12 months for the UIC soccer program, including a recap of the stellar season that was 2005:
A NEW SHERIFF IN TOWN
On January 17, 2005, UIC Director of Athletics Jim Schmidt handed the reigns of the Flames soccer program to John Trask. Trask took his first head coaching job on Chicago's West Side following a successful five-year professional coaching run in Major League Soccer. Before that Trask helped build one of college soccer's dynasties as an assistant under the legendary Jerry Yeagley at Indiana University, learning the college coaching game while capturing two National Championships in Bloomington.
Trask hired a staff with extensive experience in big matches and postseason play. Sean Phillips, Phil Presser and Lazo Alavanja, all raised under the Indiana tradition of titles, joined the Flames family as assistant coaches, along with former Flames standout Ryan Singer.
FLAMES UPGRADE THE SLATE
One of Trask's first acts was to significantly upgrade the level of competition that his team faced on the field.
In April the Flames took on the Chicago Fire in a spring friendly. In the fall exhibition campaign UIC traveled to the staff's old stomping grounds at IU to face the seven-time national champion Hoosiers for the first time since 1977.
Along with the always-tough Horizon League opponents that face the Flames every year, road contests against four 2004 NCAA Tournament teams were added. Perennial powers such as Loyola Marymount, Creighton, and Bradley, along with programs on the rise such as Northwestern, made for a grueling schedule.
PRESEASON POSITIVES
Picked fourth in the Horizon League Preseason Coaches Poll, the Flames didn't look like a fourth-place team during the exhibition season. UIC opened the fall with an impressive 4-0 win over IUPUI at the IPFW Soccer Showcase.
The Flames then traveled to IU, where storms forced the match to move to the Hoosiers' football field, Memorial Stadium. Even with a sudden change of venue, the Flames came to play, hanging with the defending national champions until the very end in a 2-1 loss. Sophomore Pavle Dundjer scored three goals and picked up an assist for seven points in two preseason games.
A VICTORY THAT "RANKS" UP THERE, PART 1
2005 could not have opened any better for the young Flames on the first day of the UC Irvine College Classic. Facing a tournament-tested Loyola Marymount squad that was ranked 24th in the nation at the time, UIC received goals from Tonci Skroce and Cesar Zambrano off of Pavle Dundjer helpers, and Jeff Engelbrecht posted his second career shutout en route to a season-opening 2-0 win over the Lions.
OVERTIME WARRIORS
With a 0-0 tie against host UC Irvine in the Flames' second match of the year, UIC showed an early sign of success in matches that go into extra time. The Flames finished the year with a 5-1-2 ledger in games that go into overtime.
"The commitment to training and preparation by this young group of players was noted and our overtime record showed that we played stronger as games wore on," said Trask.
THE FANS COME OUT TO SEE THE NEW FLAMES
Flames fans embraced the hard-working team, as UIC doubled its 2004 total attendance and attendance average by welcoming 2,122 fans (303 per home game) through the gates of Flames Field in 2005. That beat last season's mark of 1,170 (167 per home game).
Along with a winning brand of soccer, UIC implemented a variety of new attractions and theme days to make the trip to Flames Field even more entertaining. Alumni Day and Parents Day saluted two keys to the success of the Flames program. National flags representing the homelands of every UIC player were hung at the top of the bleachers to recognize the diversity of the UIC soccer team and the game itself. Tailgating became a familiar activity before and after home matches, and new promotions and giveaways made UIC home soccer games more interactive than ever before.
A VICTORY THAT "RANKS" UP THERE, PART 2
At 4-3-1, the Flames entered their road match against No. 25 Creighton after weathering a three-match losing streak. Amidst an intimidating environment at Morrison Stadium, UIC struck first on a Skroce goal. After a Bluejay goal tied the match at 1-1, Eric Cervantes drove past three Creighton defenders in the 81st minute to score the game-winner and pick up the team's second road win over a Top 25 team against an eventual 2005 NCAA Tournament quarterfinalist.
HANGING WITH THE CHAMPS
UIC has battled league rival UW-Milwaukee very well in the past few seasons, and 2005 was no exception. The young Flames went into Engelmann Field and picked up a 0-0 tie against the eventual league champions, battling UWM to a rare home draw.
STREAKING
The team rattled off an eight-match unbeaten streak in October, finishing the month with an unblemished 7-0-1 record. UIC's eight-game undefeated streak was the program's longest stretch without a loss since a perfect 10-match streak in 2001.
THE BEST TALENT IN THE LEAGUE WEARS THE UIC UNIFORM
There was no question that UIC featured three of the best players in the Horizon League. Pavle Dundjer (7 goals, 8 assists, 22 points) and Tonci Skroce (8 goals, 3 assists, 19 points) posted career-best numbers across the board, while newcomer Cesar Zambrano proved to be one of the conference's most creative and efficient playmakers with four goals and four helpers. All three took home All-Horizon League First Team recognition.
Junior Pawel Otachel (2 goals, 5 points) earned a selection to the All-League Second Team.
Pavle Dundjer: AN ALL-AMERICAN IN THE MAKING
Before his career is over, sophomore Pavle Dundjer could be the second player in UIC history to earn All-America honors in soccer. Dundjer led the team in assists (six) and points (22) while topping the Horizon League in points per game (1.29).
TONCI TIPS THE SCALES IN THE FLAMES' FAVOR
Junior Tonci Skroce proved to be Mr. Clutch for UIC in 2005. The second-year UIC forward slipped in a team-best eight goals on the year, five of which were of the game-winning variety.
THE ENGELBRECHT WALL
Sophomore keeper Jeff Engelbrecht turned in the best season of his young career in 2005. The Peoria, Ill., native posted a career single-season best five clean sheets, which is the third-best mark in UIC history. He stopped 66 shots-on-target to post a .767 save percentage and a career-best 1.19 GAA.
YOUNG GUNS GET SIGNIFICANT PLAYING TIME
Along with the highlight reel play of Zambrano, true freshmen such as Pat McMahon and Dan Simek received significant playing time as rookies. McMahon started all 17 matches on the defensive side, while Simek was a key reserve on the offensive side. Sophomores like Pawel Ligas and Nick Sutter were also vital cogs in the UIC machine.
UIC: AMONG THE BEST IN THE MIDWEST
UIC returned to the top of the Midwest Region, finding themselves in the NSCAA/adidas Midwest Region Top 10 Rankings during every week but one in 2005.
Reaching as high as the third spot on November 1st, the Flames completed the season ranked ninth in the Midwest, the first time UIC has finished a year in the regional rankings since 2002.
UIC also found themselves receiving national votes for the first time since 2001.
Along with the team's success in the region, Pavle Dundjer earned NSCAA All-Midwest Second Team recognition. Dundjer is the first UIC player on the All-Midwest Region Team since Joe Morelli in 2002.
Even with all that the team achieved this past fall, this was only the beginning of a special run that should increase the program's collection of championship hardware.
Trask, his staff, and his returning players know what they need to do to get to the high level they desire to compete at on a constant basis.
"The keys to being a consistent performer in the NCAAs are discipline, fitness and a fighting spirit," Trask said, "and while this young team showed positive signs in many areas, the staff will look to take on a more pointed approach on how to compete when the chips are on the line.
"This year turned into a great stepping stone in many respects," said Trask. "Increasing attendance, upgrading the schedule, reaching out to the alums, fielding a regionally competitive team and turning UIC soccer into a program which will vie for a place in the College Cup in the near future."
