CHICAGO – The UIC men's soccer team (4-5-3, 3-1-1 HL) bounced back from being down on two occasions but could not find the go-ahead goal as it took a 2-2 draw in double overtime against Detroit Mercy (1-7-4, 0-3-2 HL) Saturday night at Flames Field.

Mike Jimenez and Max Todd scored for the Flames, with Todd converting on one of two penalty kicks in the game. Additionally, Todd has now scored in four of the last five games and has added at least one point in five consecutive.
 
"As it always is, it was a tough, physical and mental battle against Detroit," said head coach Sean Phillips. "Our guys showed a lot of character tonight coming back from being down twice; that's a very positive trait this group is starting to show. Unfortunately, that's two games in a row that we've found ourselves having to do it, but it's nice to prove that we can battle back and get results.
 
"We have to work on two things now. One is making sure we don't find ourselves in that situation and the second is, if we do, can we have that focus and concentration to get that game-winner whether it's late or in overtime. We're creating the chances from the run of play and from our set pieces, but right now we can't seem to get that ball to break our way."
 
For the third-consecutive game, UIC produced more than 20 shots with a total of 28 against the Titans. Jimenez earned a career-high six attempts, followed by Todd and Jose Fuentes with five each. Of the nine shots on goal, Jimenez (2), Fuentes (2), Nestor Garcia (2), Oscar Gonzalez (2) and Todd made up the total.
 
Andrew Putna took the tie to bring his record on the year to 4-3-3 and 3-0-1 in conference play. He needed to make just one save on Detroit Mercy's eight shots in the game, while the two goals allowed were the first Horizon League tallies he had given up this season.
 
The Flames got off a quick shot from Kyle Hamann in the second minute of play that set the pace as they went on to take control of possession and get three more shots in the first 10 minutes from Jimenez, Gonzalez and Fuentes.
 
The best look of the half came in the 20th minute when Garcia ripped an off-balance shot that forced the Titans' keeper to making a leaping cross-net save.
 
After a pair of chances from Fuentes, Detroit Mercy put up the first goal when James Solomon passed the ball off to Tommy Bowman to send it into the opposite side of the net to take the lead into halftime.
 
Oscar Rivero opened up the second half by getting off a header three minutes in that hit off the crossbar. UIC was allotted the next four chances with Garcia coming up with the lone chance that was saved.
 
A foul in the 70th minute set up a free kick for the Flames. Todd sent the ball and connected with the head of Jimenez to put it in the back of the net for his first collegiate goal for the 1-1 tie. Jimenez then had the next three attempts but they came off target.
 
In the 81st minute, Putna was issued a yellow card to set the Titans up with a penalty kick, which Justin Murray made for the 2-1 advantage.
 
A mere two minutes later, a hand ball in the box by Detroit Mercy positioned UIC with a penalty kick of its own. Todd took the shot and converted for his sixth goal of the year and second off a PK to knot the score at 2-2. The Flames had six more shots the rest of the half with three from Gonzalez, Jimenez and Fuentes being saved.
 
One shot was taken by either team in the first overtime period with Todd on the attempt that sailed high. Detroit Mercy had two opportunities in the final 10 minutes as Putna came up with his lone save of the game, and Sanchez got off a last-chance effort sent high.
 
Next up, UIC will make the short trip up north to Evanston, Ill., on Tuesday as it is set for a non-conference tilt with Northwestern at Martin Stadium at 7 p.m. CT.