Oct. 9, 2008
Chicago, Ill.- The seventh-ranked UIC men's soccer team kept its unbeaten record intact after Wednesday's scoreless tie against 2007 national runner-up Ohio State, moving to 8-0-4 on the 2008 season.
Not only have the Flames kept their school-record start going, they have continued an impressive stretch of success dating back to last season. UIC has tasted defeat just once in its last 21 matches, with a 2-1 loss to UMass in the NCAA Tournament quarterfinals serving as the only blemish on the Flames' 15-1-5 record going back to Oct. 31, 2007.
Beginning with a dramatic double-overtime victory over Valparaiso at Flames Field on Halloween night that saw All-American Pavle Dundjer score the golden goal in the 107th minute off a pass from current Colorado Rapids player Cesar Zambrano, the Flames have:
- Outscored their opponents 40-11
- Kept 14 opponents completely off the scoreboard
- Had starting goalkeeper Jovan Bubonja post a goals-against average of 0.497
- Received a team-leading eight goals apiece from Baggio Husidic and Kevin Stoll
- Beaten three straight nationally-ranked opponents on the road to advance to the 2007 NCAA Elite Eight, the farthest any UIC athletic team has ever gone in Division I postseason play
- Achieved the highest end-of-season national rankings in school history
- Earned the highest in-season national ranking in school history
In addition to that streak, the Flames also have a nifty Horizon League string of success going. Since a 2-0 win over Milwaukee on Oct. 21, 2007, UIC has gone 8-0-1 against conference opponents.
The Flames, ranked as high as No. 4 this week by Soccer America, will take on league rival Butler (7-2-2, 2-0-1 Horizon League) inside the Butler Bowl in Indianapolis, Ind. this Saturday at 4 p.m. Eastern/3 p.m. Central.
