GREEN BAY, Wis. – The UIC men's soccer team (3-5-1, 2-1-0 HL) proved to be too much for Green Bay (1-6-0, 1-2-0 HL) to handle Saturday night as it came away with a 1-0 shutout victory at Aldo Santaga Stadium. Jose Fuentes was the difference maker as he scored the lone goal in the 71st minute of play.

"It was a well earned three points tonight," said head coach Sean Phillips. "Green Bay is a well coached team that is very difficult to beat, especially at home where they had already beaten Horizon League favorite Wright State this year.

"The most important thing for us tonight was to put in a complete 90 minute performance. We moved the ball well creating several very good chances on the night. Between some lack of sharpness on our part and good goalkeeping on their part, we were only able to finish one. Our team defending continues to improve which is a good sign as we get into October when games always tighten up."
 
The Flames came together for 15 shots on the night and had three reach on goal, while the Phoenix had opponent low on the season with three. Fuentes put up a team-high four shots with two on goal, followed by Oscar Gonzalez with three, while Dimitris Strantzalis had the other chance on goal.
 
Andrew Putna picked up his third victory and second shutout of the season while he came up with two saves.
 
Green Bay got the first shot off of the game in the sixth minute but it would not have a chance the rest of the half as it was all UIC from that point.
 
The 11th minute started an offensive attack for the Flames. Following a blocked shot from Gonzalo Romo, Gonzalez hit the crossbar and then Strantzalis had an attempt saved. UIC continued to keep up the pressure and had Fuentes and Nestor Garcia with chances that came off target five minutes later.
 
Two shots were taken the remainder of the half, both by the Flames with Fuentes and Abel Guzman taking their shots wide.
 
Gonzalez and Max Todd had a pair of shots that were blocked within the first 15 minutes of the second half. At the start of the 61st minute, Gonzalez and Strantzalis both had good looks but shot them wide and high, respectively.
 
Putna was forced to make his first save of the game in the 63rd minute of play on just the Phoenix's second shot.
 
In the 71st minute, Fuentes broke the tie as he scored his third goal of the season with the help of Romo and Todd. Fuentes had another attempt 10 minutes later that was saved, followed with shots by Kyle Hamann and Todd sent high for the final chances of the game.
 
UIC returns to Flames Field next Saturday (Oct. 1) to tangle with Northern Kentucky at 7 p.m. CT.