Aug. 20, 2005

Box Score

Fort Wayne, Ind.- The UIC soccer team gave a warm welcoming gift to their new coaching staff on Saturday night, blanking IUPUI by a 4-0 score in the Flames' exhibition opener at the Sixth Annual IPFW Soccer Showcase.

Sophomore midfielder Pavle Dundjer turned in five points on two goals and an assist, while newcomer Cesar Zambrano turned in three points in his collegiate debut. UIC also received a goal from Jed Schenkier and assists from Tonci Skroce and Pawel Otachel.

The match marked the debut of John Trask and his staff at the helm of the Flames. After only four days of practice with his new charges, Trask was pleased with the show his team displayed in their first game together.

"A very good performance for the first game of the season," said Trask. "I am very pleased with the response of the players. I've seen them come along way in terms of building the fist of the team."

Dundjer started off the scoring with a 22-yard attack that found the back of the net in the 12th minute for the early 1-0 lead. Zambrano assisted on the score.

Zambrano followed with a goal of his own, converting in the 35th minute on an assist from Skroce.

In the 54th minute Dundjer knocked home his second goal of the evening after Otachel broke through toward the end line and found his teammate in position to score and increase the lead to three goals.

Schenkier then capped the scoring for the night by knocking in a service from Dundjer off a free kick in the 57th minute.

Jeff Engelbrecht started the match in net, notching a team-high four saves. Ross Cain stopped two shots while Roman Tulis made three saves.

"We've got quite a bit of work left to do," said Trask. "We've got Indiana on the slate next week. But all things considered, it was a very successful first four days of preseason training for the Flames."

UIC plays its final exhibition game of the preseason next Saturday when the Flames travel to Bloomington, Ind., to take on two-time defending national champion Indiana at Yeagley Field at Armstrong Stadium beginning at 7:30 p.m. CST.