Nov. 5, 2010
Match Notes in PDF Format 
CHICAGO - The UIC men's soccer team will play its most pivotal game of the 2010 season in the regular season finale Saturday night, when the Flames host crosstown rival Loyola at Flames Field beginning at 7 p.m. With a win, UIC would cap off an impressive late season run, and secure a berth in the postseason Horizon League Tournament.
Loyola (3-10-2, 3-3-1 Horizon) currently sits in sixth place in the conference standings, one-half game ahead of UIC (7-10, 3-4 Horizon). The top-six teams in the final Horizon League standings advance to the postseason tournament, with the opening round being hosted by the higher seed. As mentioned, the Flames need to post their fourth win in the past five games to extend their season - a tie, or Loyola win would eliminate UIC from contention.
"The Loyola game is always a big one, regardless of record, conference standings, or implications," said UIC head coach Sean Phillips. "It's become a great rivalry over the years, and coach Eitz has done a great job getting that program to be one of the top teams in the Horizon League year-in and year-out.
"Tomorrow night's game has both regular season and postseason implications, and for that reason, it's going to be an intense, tightly contested match. It's going to be a playoff atmosphere. If we win, we get to continue our season, and still have a chance to pursue our goal of winning a championship."
After starting out the Horizon League slate with an 0-2 record, the Flames have since won three-of their last five conference contests, including back-to-back double-overtime road wins over Milwaukee (Oct. 23) and Valparaiso (Oct. 31). Against the Ramblers, UIC will be playing its first Horizon League home game since Oct. 16.
UIC had its three-game winning streak ended at Wisconsin on Wednesday night, falling 1-0 in overtime. Loyola has lost five-straight games by one-goal decisions, including last Saturday's (Oct. 30) 2-1 loss at Green Bay. The Ramblers have posted Horizon League wins this season over Detroit (Sept. 24), Cleveland State (Sept. 26) and Valparaiso (Oct. 3), along with tying Wright State (0-0) in double-overtime on Oct. 1.
In conference play, the Flames continue to be led offensively by junior Eric Frazier - he has four of his six goals, and 12 total points, in UIC's seven Horizon League contests. In the past six games, Frazier has tallied eight points on three goals and two assists. He has recorded 16 points on the season, which ranks fourth in the Horizon League.
Senior goalkeeper Steve Purdy has dished out four shutouts this season, which currently ranks third in the conference - his 66 saves rank second. In two-of UIC's last three home games, Purdy has tallied shutout performances.
Loyola is being led offensively by Eric Nock, who has scored a team-high four goals. Josh Westberg has taken 36 shots on the season, the fifth-highest mark in the Horizon League. In goal, the Ramblers are paced by Peter McKeown, who has recorded a 1.15 goals-against-average with 36 saves and three shutouts.
Saturday night's home contest will mark the final game at Flames Field for seniors Nate Downing, Steve Purdy, Alex Rickett, Brandon Wallace, Tim Walsh and Robert Younger. The first 100 students in attendance will receive a complimentary "RED OUT" t-shirt courtesy of Enterprise Rent-A-Car and the UIC Athletic Department.
