Box Score

	UIC 1, Milwaukee 1 (2OT) Engelmann Stadium • Milwaukee, Wis. Attendance: 527 Box Score | Box Score

MILWAUKEE - The UIC men's soccer team (4-3-2, 1-0-1 HL) battled for 110 minutes, including 54 minutes of 10-on-10 soccer, before its match against Milwaukee (2-4-2, 1-0-1 HL) was decided in a 1-1 draw Sunday night at Engelmann Stadium. Joel Leon tied the game in the 55th minute of play on a header off a free kick taken by Manny Chavez.

"You go into every game looking for three points so it is always disappointment when you come out with only one," said head coach Sean Phillips.

Each team went down a man early in the second half after Gonzalo Romo was handed his second yellow card in the 52nd minute and another was issued to Milwaukee's Declan Rodriguez four minutes later.

The Flames outshot the Panthers, 23-16, marking the seventh time they have won the shot battle and the first time they have recorded 20 or more shots this season. Eight players added to the shot total and were led by Jorge Alvarez (6), Chavez (5) and Jose Fuentes (4). Six shots came on goal from Leon, Alvarez (2), Chavez, Romo and Kyle Hamann.

Through the first 25 minutes of play, UIC was able to take five quality shots from Alvarez, Romo, Hamann, Fuentes and Leon. Romo and Hamann had the closest opportunities with both of their shots coming as saves, including a team save from Milwaukee off a defender in the 18th minute.

It was the Panthers' second shot of the game in the 27th minute that put them up 1-0. Francesco Saporito sent in a corner kick that reached Rodriguez, who headed the ball in to the far post.

Two more shots for Milwaukee would come before UIC was able to get its next attempt off by Mike Jimenez that went wide. The Flames then had three-consecutive shots from Fuentes, Alvarez and Leon blocked in a 30-second span within the last five minutes of the half.

"Milwaukee, which is a very talented group, came at us in the first half. They were first to the first and second balls, connected their passes well and were sharper on set pieces, which led to their first goal."

UIC found the equalizer despite being down a man in the 55th minute as Leon connected with a header off a free kick taken by Chavez from range for his first goal of the season and second of his career.

"I thought we had gotten off to a pretty good start in the second half when we took a red card early. Some teams may have folded, but I think this group showed the character that is in us by pulling even on a set piece a few minutes later. Milwaukee took a red card of their own just after our goal, which made for an open game where both teams created chances and had to defend well."

The Flames had four shots come off target from Fuentes and Chavez (3) before (Jorge) Alvarez forced a diving save from the Panthers' goalkeeper Agustin Rey in the 81st minute. Milwaukee attempted three shots the remainder of the half, while Alvarez had an attempt blocked in the final minute of regulation.

Alvarez put the first shot on goal in overtime as his sixth shot of the night was stopped. A blocked shot by Fuentes presented a sequence of three-straight corner kicks, but each ball was sent out.

UIC had four chances come in the remaining 10 minutes of play from Chavez (2), Jimenez and Abel Guzman, with Chavez forcing a save in the 108th minute.

Goalkeeper Andrew Putna matched his career high with a season-high seven saves. The junior now owns 29 saves on the year and a 0.94 goals-against-average.

"Now it is time to get some rest - first week without a road or midweek game in a month - and get ready for Wright State."

The Flames will return home and await their next Horizon League matchup set for Saturday against Wright State. Kickoff is scheduled for 1 p.m. CT at Flames Field.