Jesus Perez scored on a breakaway in the 10th minute, and the Flames (8-5-3, 5-2-1 HL) made it stand up the rest of the way for a 1-0 win over Oakland (6-9-1, 3-4-1 HL) on Senior Night at Flames Field.  UIC extended their unbeaten streak to nine straight matches, the program's longest such streak since 2013.

Sawyer Jackman made three saves and posted his third consecutive shutout.

Game Headlines

• Grizzlies Take First Opportunity: Oakland threatened to break the ice on a breakaway toward the Flames' goal.  Austin Ricci took the ball along the right flank and drew Sawyer Jackman off his line, and sent a shot past Jackman that hit the post.
• Flames Turn the Tables: The Flames posted the match's first goal in transition following a Grizzlies corner kick.  Max Todd brought the ball out of the scrum and served a long through ball to a streaking Jesus Perez, who got past the last defender and beat the keeper with a low shot.

  

• UIC Can't Add On Before Half: Lyes Ghezali had an opportunity to make it 2-0 in the 43^rd minute when a set piece found him open inside the top of the box.  His clear shot on goal went high, and the halftime score remained 1-0.
• Oakland Makes a Surge: Jackman was tested in the 53^rd minute and was able to make a clean save.  Oakland took a streaking run into the box in the 70^th minute but two Flames defenders were packed in and they teamed up to make a nice play to take the ball away.
• Flames Manufacture Chances: Oakland held possession for most of the second half, but UIC did have opportunities in the 78^th minute.  Joel Leon was in position to put a header on net only to see Wes Mink make a quality save.  Peter Becht took a shot shortly after which Mink played routinely.
• Yellow Cards Abound Late: Five cautions were issued in the last 11 minutes as Oakland turned their aggression even higher in search of the equalizer.  They had a man sent off for the final 90 seconds and could not get a shot attempted past UIC's defense.

Facts and Figures

• The First XI held constant from the last game against Cleveland State.  Seniors Joel Leon and Jose Fuentes represented the senior class in the starting lineup.
• Senior Abel Guzman came on late in the first half and provided eight minutes of high energy play.  Senior Sasha Simon made his first appearance since the Bradley game, contributing 24 minutes.
• Perez netted his third goal of the season.  His 10^th minute strike marked the latest in a game he has scored.
• Simon, Cristian Sanchez, and Oscar Gonzalez were issued yellow cards.  The Golden Grizzlies were cautioned four times including the send-off.
• The Flames were flagged for offside five times.
• Six of UIC's ten shots were on goal.  Peter Becht was the lone Flame to put multiple attempts on goal, with two.
• Jackman posted his third consecutive clean sheet and lowered his goals against average to 1.06.

Up Next

• The Flames will close the regular season at Belmont next Friday.
• The match will begin at 3:00 pm Central.
• UIC's seed in the Horizon League Tournament will depend on the result in Nashville and other action around the conference.

Postgame Reaction

• Jesus Perez
  
• Sean Phillips