CHICAGO – The UIC women's soccer team (1-3-2) fell short in its effort to hold off Baylor (5-1-0) as it suffered a 1-0 loss Sunday afternoon at Flames Field.
 
UIC was offered a mere six shots in the game, its lowest total of the season, while three of its attempts came on goal. Baylor came up with an opponent-high total on the year with 20 shots and forced five on goal.
 
Kelly Fritz earned her first start of the year in goal and played 58 minutes while making three saves before exiting due to injury. Annie DiCanio entered to finish the game and made two stops.
 
UIC took control of possession in the first half despite being held to four shots, but had three of its attempts reach on goal. Baylor was able to scatter nine shots throughout the half and put two on the mark.
 
Emily Wauer recorded the first shot of the game a mere five minutes in and was stopped, with Madison Pollard following that up five minutes later with a shot on goal of her own. Rebeca Pallo got off an attempt in the 17th minute from 20 yards out that went just wide right, and Emily Valentine followed it up with the Flames last attempt of the half in the 23rd minute that was saved.
 
The defense came through in the start of the second half as the Bears fired off seven shots before UIC was allotted an opportunity in the 67th minute when Cecilia Magos sent a shot wide left. Neither team was then offered a chance until the 79th minute when DiCanio came up with a big save on a header attempt.
 
After another stop from DiCanio, Baylor found the difference maker in the 84th minute as Lauren Piercy collected the ball off a turnover and carried it into the box before shooting it from 10 yards out into the back of the net.
 
Only one more opportunity was presented in the game as Naomi Rushe carried the ball down with seconds to spare and fired the ball high.
 
The Flames will make the trek out to Arizona this week as they are slated to compete in the NAU Mountain Classic at Lumberjack Stadium in Flagstaff. They will first face Northern Arizona on Friday at 10 p.m. CT and close out their stay on Sunday against Grand Canyon at 1 p.m.