Sept. 10, 2006

Box Score

San Luis Obispo, Calif.- The 18th-ranked UIC soccer team kept its unbeaten start to the season intact as Brodey Simkins' equalizing goal in the 36th minute helped the Flames earn a 1-1 draw against host Cal Poly on Sunday afternoon.

Ten minutes after UIC (4-0-2) fell behind in the 26th minute on a Logan Nicks goal for the Mustangs (1-3-2), Simkins found the back of the net for his first goal of the season to knot the game.

That's how the score would remain, as both teams engaged in a physical battle that included 41 fouls and seven bookings.

Jovan Bubonja made five stops in goal for the Flames.

"A great ball from Brodey to tie it up," UIC head coach John Trask said of the score by his senior forward.

"I've seen it happen many times after a big win where a team can have a letdown," said Trask. "Especially when the next game is on a Sunday afternoon on the road and the guys are cramped up in a hotel for a few hours waiting to play. Our guys were disciplined enough to get a result.

"I'd like to thank Cal Poly for being such good hosts while we were here," Trask continued. "To come out of here 1-0-1 against the competition we faced this weekend is a great improvement over where we were at this time a year ago."

Trask applauded the play of senior captain Derek Kosek in the back.

"A very, very good performance out of DJ," said Trask. "Thank goodness he was out there."

In the last three matches UIC has shown its resilience, rallying from one-goal deficits in each game with five unanswered goals in that span to post a 2-0-1 record.

Trask liked what he saw from his squad in California.

"All things considered, I'm very pleased," said Trask. "Bottom line is we were disciplined enough to get the result today.

UIC travels to Miami next weekend to take on Florida International on Friday at 6:30 p.m. Central.