Sept. 2, 2007
Box Score | Notes
Chicago, Ill.- Last season the UIC men's soccer team featured the nation's top-ranked defense.
If the Flames' 2007 season opener is any indication, they should feature an equally-deadly offense, too.
Redshirt freshman forward Matt Spiess and junior back Pat McMahon tallied three points apiece, and junior forward Dan Simek added a goal of his own to propel 25th-ranked UIC to a 3-1 victory over BIG EAST foe Marquette at Flames Field on Sunday night.
In front of a boisterous crowd that included UIC Athletics' official student booster club, the Fury, in fun form and former Flames back Jay DeMerit, who is in town to play for the U.S. Men's National Team against Brazil at Soldier Field next Sunday, UIC (1-0-0) gave its fans an offensive show.
After a scoreless first period, the Flames came out firing after intermission. Charlie Trout sent a free kick across to the left side that McMahon bounced deep into the center of the box, where Spiess was able to knock it past Marquette keeper Steve Purdy and put the Flames on the board first in the 49th minute.
UIC added to its advantage just four minutes later. This time Spiess was the player who sent in a ball that Simek quickly chipped into the net.
Marquette (0-2-0) cut its deficit in half after a ball sent into a scrum in front of the UIC goal was eventually played into the net by Dan Addis.
But UIC answered back in the 61st minute, when Pavle Dundjer placed a beautiful ball into the possession of a streaking McMahon, who flicked a shot past Purdy for the Flames' third tally of the night.
"I'm very pleased for the players to get the first win under their belts," said UIC head coach John Trask. "It was great to see Matt Spiess get a goal in his first collegiate game, as well as seeing the continued confidence and play in Dan Simek.
"I thought the quality of our restarts and the quality of our final third play was the difference," said Trask. "We knew they were going to try and make it difficult for us, so we needed to keep wearing them down. Once we got the first goal they had to change their plans and be more aggressive to get an equalizer, which allowed us to get the second goal and the third goal."
Trask was impressed and thankful for the loyal fans who made it out to Flames Field on Labor Day weekend.
"Unbelievable," Trask said about the fan turnout. "I want to compliment the Fury, the local community, all the kids and parents who came out. It just seems that our fan base continues to grow, and our entire team and staff are truly grateful for their support."
UIC outshot Marquette by a 15-7 margin.
Bubonja made a couple of wonderful saves, while Ian Sarachan made a critical stop in the middle of the second period.
UIC hits the road for the first of two road matches, beginning with another BIG EAST foe in Rutger at Yurcak Field in Piscataway, N.J. on September 8th.
