June 12, 2009
2009 UIC Men's Soccer Schedule in PDF Format 
CHICAGO- The UIC men's soccer team released its 2009 schedule to the public on Friday, June 12, and the Flames' demanding slate features top competition from start to finish this fall.
"I'm extremely excited about the 2009 schedule," said UIC head coach John Trask. "We are going to challenge the players in a way that they haven't seen in the past."
UIC's 18-game regular season schedule has nine home matches at Flames Field. Following a pair of preseason road exhibitions, beginning with an Aug. 22 contest at Southern Illinois-Edwardsville and an Aug. 28 match against 2008 Elite Eight side Northwestern in Fort Wayne, Ind., the Flames kick off the regular season against UAB on Friday, Sept. 4 at 7 p.m. under the Flames Field lights.
Two days later UIC hosts Michigan State at 6 p.m. in a rematch of last year's thrilling Round of 32 contest that saw the Flames advance past the fourth-seeded Spartans in penalty kicks.
The Flames then face a stretch of five consecutive road matches, beginning with a two-match stay at the U of L Invitational hosted by Louisville. UIC opens the event on Friday, Sept. 11 against Kentucky at 4 p.m. Central. On Sunday, Sept. 13, the Flames take on the host Cardinals at 4 p.m. Central.
From there the Flames embark on Las Vegas, where they will take on UNLV and UC Riverside in the UNLV Rebel Classic. UIC meets the Rebels on Friday, Sept. 18 at 9:00 p.m. Central before wrapping up its stay against the Highlanders on Sunday, Sept. 20 at 12:30 p.m. Central.
The road swing concludes on Sunday, Sept. 27 with the Flames' Horizon League opener at Cleveland State.
UIC returns to Flames Field for a three-match homestand, beginning on Wednesday, Sept. 30 against Wisconsin. Badgers head coach Todd Yeagley, a former Indiana star while Trask was an assistant for the Hoosiers and the son of Trask's mentor, legendary IU coach Jerry Yeagley, will bring his new side into the Windy City for a classic regional battle.
Wright State comes to town on Saturday, Oct. 3 for a Horizon League clash, and the season's longest stay at Flames Field concludes when another former Hoosier, Akron head coach Caleb Porter, leads his Zips to UIC's home pitch on Wednesday, Oct. 7 for an evening collision between two of last year's NCAA Sweet 16 clubs.
"This schedule has a balanced mix of difficult games outside of the region along with a host of top programs from our region," Trask said. "To play the likes of Wisconsin, Michigan State and Akron at Flames Field will allow soccer people in the Chicagoland area, as well as our students here at UIC, to see us play the best. We set school records for attendance last year, and the following this team has inspired is nothing less than amazing."
After the Akron match, the Flames head up to Green Bay, Wis., to face the Phoenix on Saturday, Oct. 10 at 7 p.m. Then UIC will head to Columbus, Ohio to take on 2007 national runner-up Ohio State on Wednesday, Oct. 14 in a return match of last year's action-packed draw witnessed by over 2,400 fans at Flames Field.
The Flames come back home to welcome league foe Milwaukee for a Saturday night collision on Oct. 17. Western Illinois enters Flames Field to face UIC on Tuesday, Oct. 20 before the Flames head up to Rogers Park for the spirited derby against Loyola on Saturday, Oct. 24.
UIC hooks up against Valparaiso in a league match at Flames Field on Friday, Oct. 30 before wrapping up the home schedule against league rival Butler on Wednesday, Nov. 4.
The regular season ends on Saturday, Nov. 7, when the Flames haul up to Motown to take on Detroit in an 11 a.m. Central conference contest.
"The Horizon League continues to improve, and our home schedule against Wright State, Milwaukee, Valparaiso and Butler should also be highlights for this season," said Trask.
The 2009 Horizon League Men's Soccer Championship begins with quarterfinal action on Tuesday, Nov. 10. The semifinals take place on Friday, Nov. 13, and the league title will be decided on Sunday, Nov. 15.
UIC will be in search of its fourth consecutive berth into the NCAA Division I Men's Soccer Championship, which begins with first round play on Nov. 20 and 21. The second round takes place on Nov. 24, followed by Sweet 16 action from Nov. 28-29. The national quarterfinals occur from Dec. 4-6, and the 2009 College Cup runs from Dec. 11-13 in Cary, N.C.
"The coaching staff made a vow to all players that they would be challenged, and I think when looking at this schedule it will help us prepare to play with the best the country has to offer," concluded Trask.
Fans can listen to podcasts featuring exclusive interviews with UIC head coaches, staff and student-athletes in two ways:
1. Download the free UIC Athletics Widget and click on the "UIC Flames Podcasts" link
2. Download podcasts for free on iTunes by searching "UIC Flames"
