CLEVELAND – The UIC men's soccer team (5-6-3, 3-2-1 HL) could not come back from a goal scored in the sixth minute by Cleveland State (5-6-2, 3-1-2 HL) as it fell 1-0 at Krenzler Field Saturday night.
 
The Flames were held without a goal for the first time since Sept. 17 as it outshot the Vikings, 19-14. Max Todd matched his career high with a team-best nine shots and had four of his attempts reach on goal, with Oscar Rivero having the lone other shot on target.
 
Andrew Putna played the complete game and was forced to match his season high with five saves.
 
After putting up a shot that forced a save in the fourth minute, Cleveland State grabbed the 1-0 lead two minutes later as Kevin Blackwood had his header blocked and Gianluca DiFranco found the rebound to shoot it in the lower left corner of the net.
 
UIC came back to control the offensive attack and had two shots off target before Todd went back-to-back in attempts that were saved and Rivero put up a shot on goal five minutes later.
 
The Vikings had the next four attempts with one resulting in a save until Todd forced up a chance that was saved with five minutes remaining in the half. One more shot went off target for the Flames in the half with two for CSU as one was saved.
 
The opportunities were split into the second half with each team getting off four shots scross the first 25 minutes, as all but one shot was off target with the Vikings getting a chance on goal.
 
UIC had the upper hand in attempts the rest of the game but had four of its looks off the mark, as the final shot of the game from Todd came in the final minute and was saved.
 
The Flames return to Chicago and will prepare for their next Horizon League match Saturday (Oct. 22) at Flames Field against Valparaiso at 7 p.m. CT.