CHICAGO – The UIC women's soccer team (3-10-0) heads into a midweek match Wednesday to face Illinois State (5-5-2) for its final non-conference tilt of the season at 7 p.m. CT at Adelaide Street Field in Normal, Ill. It will be the first ever meeting between the Illinois foes.
 
The Flames are coming off a 2-0 shutout victory over Cleveland State on Saturday (Sept. 30) for their first conference win, also snapping a six-game skid. Rebeca Pallo netted the game-winner while Madison Pollard also tallied her first goal of the season, with Bekah Allen and Olivia Everin assisting on the respective goals. Annie DiCanio earned her third shutout of the year after making four saves.
 
UIC has put the ball in the back of the net at least once over the last four games to increase its goal total to 12 on the year, with Naomi Rushe (3) and Pallo (2) leading the effort, as nine assists have been added with top marks from Everin (2) and Keri Birkenhead (2). The Flames have attempted 185 shots this season with a team-best 26 from Everin. Of the 72 shots on goal, Everin, Tamae Douglas, Emily Valentine and Rushe have each put nine on target.
 
DiCanio has played the most minutes in goal this season with 540 as she has gone the complete game in the last two matches. She additionally owns the best goals-against-average of 1.17 and has made 23 stops. Kelly Fritz and Tara Khayam have also played more than 270 minutes apiece while both making 19 saves.
 
Illinois State has won three of its last four matches in 1-0 fashion against Miami (Oh), UMKC and Western Illinois, while its additional wins on the year have been against Illinois, 2-0, and Pittsburgh, 1-0.
 
The Redbirds have acquired just seven goals with five coming from Angel Krell (3) and Sarah Lafayette (2). They have outshot opponents, 201-155, as Kelli Zickert (31), Krell (30) and Emily Dickmand (30) lead the group of six who have reached double-digit figures and additionally have made up 45 of the team's 92 shots on goal.
 
Haley Smith has played all but 57 minutes in goal this season as she holds a 0.85 GAA, six shutouts and 61 saves for a .859 save percentage.