CLEVELAND – The UIC women's soccer team (5-7-2, 3-2-0 HL) captured its fourth win out of the last five games along with its first road victory Saturday night as it defeated Cleveland State (4-9-0, 1-4-0 HL) at Krenzler Field. Naomi Rushe scored the equalizer for the Flames before Rebeca Pallo put home her fifth game-winning goal of the year.
 
UIC was kept to nine shots with three on goal as the Vikings took 13 attempts on the night. Rushe led the team with four shots, followed by Pallo with two, as the pair made up all three shots on goal.
 
Kelly Fritz earned her third win of the season and in conference play as she matched her season-high with seven saves.
 
It was a quick start as Pallo got off a header that was saved following a corner kick sent in by Olivia Everin in the eighth minute of play, with the next attempt coming from Jasmin Carrera nine minutes later that was sent wide. Fritz made her first save of the game in the 22nd minute and her second within the next five minutes, as Rushe (2) and Everin scattered shots off target.
 
In the 39th minute, Cleveland State went ahead 1-0 as Dani Sowinski sent in a cross to Kaila Sargema, who was breaking into the middle of the box and tapped the ball in from five yards out.
 
A corner kick for the Flames in the 42nd minute was sent in by Jennifer Saviski before a scramble in the box allowed Cecilia Magos to pass the ball off to Rushe, who scored her second goal of the season to put the game in a 1-1 tie heading into halftime.
 
Three minutes into the second half, Pallo dribbled the ball up the right side before taking a shot that went into the far post for her sixth goal of the season and the 2-1 lead.
 
The Vikings came back with three straight shots, with one hitting the post and another being saved by Fritz. Their pursuit continued as they put up four more shots with three on goal while holding UIC without an attempt before Emily Wauer sent a shot wide in the 82nd minute that was the final chance of the game.
 
The Flames are back in action at home next Saturday, Oct. 15, when they host Northern Kentucky at 7 p.m. CT at Flames Field.