Aug. 16, 2006

Fort Wayne, Ind.- The UIC soccer team gave fans an exciting glimpse of things to come this season, giving perennial national powerhouse Indiana all it could handle before falling on a late overtime goal in an exhibition match at the Fort Wayne Sport Club.

The Flames and Hoosiers played to a scoreless tie for 90 minutes of regulation time and the first 10-minute overtime session before a Brian Ackley shot just escaped the grasp of a leaping Jovan Bubonja early in the second extra period.

UIC squashed early Indiana attacks with stellar defensive play from sophomore Pat McMahon and the entire backline.

Playing without midfielder Pavle Dundjer, junior Cesar Zambrano and senior Tonci Skroce provided the offensive force for UIC. Both launched numerous attempts that just missed, helping the Flames outshoot the Hoosiers 13-8.

"To be able to play an overtime game this early in the preseason is a compliment to the work these guys did in the spring and summer," said UIC head coach John Trask.

"We saw the growth of the team in how they played without Pavle on the field," said Trask. "What was most important today was not the result, but the performance."

"This is the second time we've played a Top 20 team here," said Trask, referring to the Flames' spring exhibition game against Akron in Fort Wayne earlier this year. "I'd like to thank the people at the Fort Wayne Sport Club for giving us the opportunity."

The Hoosiers, ranked 12th in the NSCAA/adidas Preseason Poll, were complimentary of the Flames.

"Overall, I thought we were the second best team on the field," Indiana head coach Mike Freitag told iuhoosiers.com. "It seemed like [UIC] had a little more bounce in their step."

Along with the debut of Bubonja in goal, Alen Husidic and Baggio Husidic made their inaugural UIC appearances in the starting lineup while Mike Giffin played significant minutes in his first showing.

The Flames return to action on Friday against IUPUI in the IPFW Soccer Showcase in Fort Wayne.