In another hard fought chapter in a storied city rivalry, UIC (4-5-2) and Loyola (4-5-1) played to a 1-1 draw Tuesday evening at Loyola Soccer Park.  The Ramblers struck first on a penalty kick, but UIC drew square on an Oscar Gonzalez goal on a free kick.

Sawyer Jackman saved the game in the final seconds of regulation by getting both hands on a header just feet from the goal.  He reprised that feat with a huge save on a penalty kick in overtime.

Head coach Sean Phillips said that the match was a "great battle between two city rivals.  Both teams expected that's what was going to happen and that's exactly what we got tonight."

Game Headlines

• UIC Tests Loyola Early: The Flames had a couple of chances in the early goings.  Markell Saddler put a shot on net from 12 yards out, resulting in the first save by Evan Konermann.  Then in the seventh minute, Jesus Perez tested Konermann but the freshman was up to the task again.
• Loyola's Chances are Limited: Loyola's most continuous possession came between the 12^th and 20^th minutes.  Early in that sequence, they send a cross through the box that the Flames headed away from danger.  Their lone shot of the first half came later on a header that went wide.
• Flames Try for Late Score: Two opportunities came for UIC in the final five minutes of the first half.  Oscar Gonzalez made a beautiful entry pass Perez, who challenged the keeper with a shot that went high.  Soon after, Saddler was on the doorstep and offered a header, but it didn't get past the near post.
• PK Puts Ramblers Ahead: Loyola drew first blood on a penalty kick.  Kyle Thomson was in a one-on-one battle inside the box when Sawyer Jackman came out to make a play.  Jackman earned a yellow card and Thomson was true on the PK.
• "We shot ourselves in the foot after playing a very positive first half where we had more of the better chances and held a lot of possession," Phillips said.  "Loyola made some adjustments at halftime and to their credit they made it much more difficult for us to do what we wanted to do.  They forced us into the penalty situation to put them up 1-0." 
• Flames Earn Quality Looks: UIC turned up the pressure and created some chances for themselves.  In the 66^th minute, Gonzalez forced Konermann to make a diving save.  Six minutes later, Perez sent a free kick through the defense and just wide of the net.
• Gonzalez Scores: In the 77^th minute, Oscar Gonzalez lined up a free kick from the left wing, 22 yards from the goal.  He sent it low, and it eluded one diving Rambler defender before going past a sliding keeper to bring the Flames level at 1.
• Phillips was pleased with the resolve his team showed in responding to the deficit.  "This group continues to show that there's an inner strength and an inner character that they don't quit, and that developed again tonight as we were able to get to 1-1.  The guys continued to battle and Oscar got a good goal off a free kick."
• Jackman Comes Up Big...: Abel Guzman had two shots blocked in the last four minutes of regulation, but Loyola had the best chance to win in regulation.  A cross found an open

  

  Rambler at the post, and he headed the ball for the potential game-winning goal, but Sawyer Jackman was right there to get both hands on it for the save.
• ...Twice: Jackman made a save early in the first overtime, but saved his best moves for the final seconds of the period.  A takedown inside the box put Loyola on the spot for the second time.  Jackman dove to his right and made a solid save to keep the game deadlocked.
• "Sawyer showed early on in the season that he's very capable of making big saves, and he once again showed the quality that he has of being a shot stopper," Phillips said.  "I was not surprised he made the save on the header near the end.  I was not surprised he made the save on the penalty; he saved it strongly."
• Phillips also credited the Flames' defense for their part in keeping Loyola at bay.  "Our backs continue to get better and that's a theme we have to continue on," he said.

Facts and Figures

• Phillips made it 11-for-11 this year in terms of unique First XI's.  Jaime Alonso returned to the starting lineup for the first time since the Northwestern contest.
• The Flames conceded a penalty kick for the third time in the last four games.
• Gonzalez added to his team high with his fifth goal of the season.  He has a goal in three straight games.
• The Flames outshot Loyola, 19-15, but held a mere 6-5 edge in shots on goal.  The Ramblers turned up the heat in the overtime periods, holding a 7-2 advantage in extra time.
• Jackman has now saved one of the five penalty kicks he has faced.  It was the second game in which he let through a penalty but otherwise did not allow a goal during the run of play.
• 37 total fouls were called in the game, 21 against Loyola.  It was the highest total in any game this season.
• Guzman took three shots in his 31 minutes, all of which were quality chances.

Up Next

• The Flames return to Horizon League play with a pivotal match against Green Bay.
• The match with the Phoenix will start at 7:00 Saturday evening at Flames Field.
• It will be the team's annual Scarf Night.  The first 400 UIC students through the gates will receive a free team scarf.
• Phillips believes his team still has room to improve, with five Horizon League contests looming over the final six games of the season.  "As we always do, we have to take the lessons we learned against a very good Loyola team at their place and continue to grow as a group, so that when we step back in to Horizon League play we are best prepared to get the results we need."