March 28, 2006

Chicago, Ill.- The UIC soccer team has unveiled its 2006 spring schedule, with a home rematch against Eastern Illinois this Sunday and a showdown versus one of the best teams in the nation last season highlighting the exhibition slate.

The Flames will host Eastern Illinois this Sunday at Flames Field, with kickoff scheduled for 3:30 p.m. UIC defeated the Panthers in the 2005 regular season by a 1-0 count on Sept. 18th.

UIC will face Northwestern and Northern Illinois during a two-game day in DeKalb, Ill., on April 8th. The Flames and Wildcats face off at 5:30 p.m., while the host Huskies meet UIC shortly after at 7:00 p.m.

The Flames wrap up the spring on April 23rd with a meeting against 2005 NCAA Elite Eight qualifier Akron in Fort Wayne, Ind., at 4:00 p.m.

The Zips were ranked No. 1 in the nation for much of the 2005 regular season, finishing in the top spot in the final Soccer America regular season poll. Akron finished the year at 18-2-3 overall with Mid-American Conference regular season and tournament championships and closing the year in a penalty-kick defeat at the hands of eventual national champion Maryland in the NCAA round of eight.