Aug. 26, 2006
Box Score
St. Louis, Mo.- Tonci Skroce's goal in the 72nd minute propelled the UIC soccer team to a 1-0 road victory over 25th-ranked Saint Louis in the season opener at Robert R. Hermann Stadium on Saturday night.
The Flames (1-0) picked up their third win over a Top 25 team in just over a year and snapped an eight-match all-time winless streak against the Billikens (0-1).
Skroce showed no ill effects from a two-footed tackle that resulted in a red card for Billiken back Calum Angus. The senior forward followed up Mike Giffin's shot that bounced off the cross bar and headed it into the net to give the Flames the first and only score of the match.
"A tremendous result to begin the season," said UIC head coach John Trask. "Saint Louis is a nationally-recognized program, and to be able to compete with them at their place and get this result is a compliment to our guys and the work they have put in.
"The four guys in the back played very well," said Trask of his defense, led by senior captain Derek Kosek and solidifed by Giffin, Alen Husidic and Pat McMahon. "It was going to take exactly the type of goal that we scored to get this result."
Jovan Bubonja debuted between the posts for the Flames, stopping three shots on goal to turn in a clean sheet in his first collegiate start.
UIC outshot the Billikens by an 8-7 margin. Pawel Otachel took three shots, while Pavle Dundjer made two attempts on target.
Trask was grateful that the Billikens, a program with 10 national championships in its trophy case, hosted the Flames at Hermann Stadium, the home of this year's NCAA College Cup.
"My compliments to Dan Donigan and Saint Louis University for a first-class collegiate soccer facility and atmosphere," Trask said. "It's so awesome for the collegiate game to have the College Cup held here."
With an official attendance of 3,834 and a majority of the crowd dominated by SLU students, the environment surrounding the play was electric. Trask knows that type of atmosphere gave his players an extra boost and hopes that UIC students can create a similar feeling at home this season.
"Like Saint Louis, UIC has a men's soccer program in an urban setting," said Trask. "We're hoping our students can come out in full force to give us a home field advantage and create an environment like the one we played in tonight."
The Flames head back to Chicago to prepare for the first home night game in UIC soccer history, hosting crosstown rival DePaul at a newly-lighted Flames Field this Wednesday, August 30th at 7:00 p.m. UIC students are invited to come early for a free "are you fired up?" cookout prior to kickoff.
