DETROIT – UIC (4-11-0, 2-3-0 HL) came away with its second straight Horizon League shutout win Saturday afternoon when it defeated Detroit Mercy (3-10-1, 0-5-0 HL), 3-0, for the first time in program history. It was also the largest margin of victory ever in a conference match for the Flames.
 
Tamae Douglas, Ashlin West and Emily Valentine were responsible for UIC's tallies as Olivia Everin and Valentine also notched assists, with Valentine turning out a three-point performance. Their contributions marked the sixth straight game the Flames have scored at least one goal.
 
UIC put together 12 shots in the match and had half of its attempts (6) come on goal. Douglas and Everin both tabbed a team-best three shots along with one look on net each in addition to West, Valentine, Haley Kittle and Naomi Rushe.
 
Annie DiCanio and Tara Khayam shared the shutout as DiCanio made her fourth consecutive start and captured three saves before she was relieved in the 58th minute after being issued a red card. Khayam played the final 33 minutes and made two stops as Detroit Mercy took 15 total shots in the match.
 
After executing two shots out of the start, the Flames claimed the 1-0 lead in the 12th minute as Everin took the ball down the right side and sent in a cross that landed with Douglas to put it in the back of the net for her second goal in as many games and third of the season.
 
While UIC had just one shot, a look sent wide by Everin, the remainder of the half, the Titans tried six shots with two near misses that hit off the crossbar and another that forced DiCanio to make her second save.
 
Out of the break, the Flames got a shot on goal in the first three minutes as Kittle got her head on the ball coming off a corner kick from Valentine. Everin then attempted a shot from distance but it went just high.
 
In the 56th minute, Valentine sent in another corner that connected with the foot of West and she put it into the lower right corner for her first collegiate goal and the 2-0 advantage.
 
Two minutes later, DiCanio made a play on the ball outside the box and was issued a red card, bringing in Khayam to take over in goal and forcing UIC to play with 10 the rest of the way. It took four shots from Detroit Mercy before Khayam was tested and made her first save in the 70th minute.
 
A foul in the box in the 71st minute set up the Flames with a penalty kick. With Valentine taking the attempt, she shot the ball into the lower left corner for her second PK goal of the season and to put UIC up 3-0.
 
Despite being a player down, the Flames outshot of Titans, 3-1, as Janai Cedeno, Rushe and Douglas all went off the mark in their attempts and Khayam made her second stop.
 
The Flames will have a week break before they continue play next Saturday (Oct. 14) at Youngstown State. Kickoff is scheduled for 1 p.m. CT at Farmers National Bank Field in Youngstown, Ohio.