CHICAGO – The UIC women's soccer team kicks off its fourth competitive season this weekend when it squares off with Indiana State and Eastern Michigan. The Flames first hit the road Friday for a 6 p.m. CT matchup with the Sycamores in Terre Haute, Ind., before returning for their home opener at Flames Field on Sunday at 1 p.m. versus the Eagles.
 
UIC already has one match under its belt after taking on Eastern Illinois in exhibition play. The Flames controlled the match, winning the shot battle, 16-8, with nine attempts reaching on goal. After Olivia Everin scored the first goal in the fourth minute, the highlight of the match came when freshman Keri Birkenhead recorded the program's first-ever hat trick with three goals in roughly five and a half minutes in the second stanza.
 
All but five players were worked into the rotation against the Panthers as the Flames boast a roster of 29 (10 SR, 6 JR, 6 SO, 7 FR), the largest group for the program. Ten of the returning 22 letterwinners were a part of the starting core last season, including Horizon League All-Freshman selections Tamae Douglas and Emily Valentine.
 
UIC has progressively increased its production each season and looks to improve off of 2016's 6-10-2 turnout and 4-5-0 mark in Horizon League play. It picked up five shutouts with three coming against conference foes Youngstown State, Green Bay and Wright State. In the Horizon League Preseason Coaches Poll, the Flames were selected to finish sixth, putting them into contention for the conference tournament.
 
Last season, UIC registered 21 goals, 19 assists, 216 shots and 99 shots on goal, all bests for the program. Eight of the 10 goal scorers are back and are led by Rebeca Pallo, who made up six tallies, while Olivia Everin will aim to improve off of her team-leading five assists.
 
Defensively, the Flames' back line kept opponents to fewer goals, assists and shots than the year prior. The goalkeeper rotation of Kelly Fritz, Annie DiCanio and Tara Khayam needed to make just 79 saves as the registered the program's best goals-against average of 1.62.
 
Indiana State produced a 7-11-2 record in 2016 and went 2-3-2 in the Missouri Valley, earning them a fourth-place finish. Twenty-two letterwinners are back on the pitch, including seven starters and All-MVC honorees Kasey Wallace, Katie Wells, Katie Sullivan and Pam Silies. During the preseason, the Sycamores dropped a 3-0 contest to Austin Peay, 3-0, before defeating Eastern Kentucky, 2-1.
 
Friday will be the first time UIC and Indiana State have met during the regular season. The two teams previously faced off last season in exhibition with the result coming as a 0-0 tie.
 
Eastern Michigan went 6-10-4 last season with a 4-5-2 result in Mid-American play to finish seventh. The Eagles will bring back 13 letterwinners and seven starters, featuring 2016 MAC Freshman of the Year Sabrina McNeill and All-MAC pick Kaylin Williams. Entering the regular season not having played a game, EMU will face Illinois State at home Friday before heading to Chicago.
 
The Eagles own the 2-0 advantage in the all-time series with the Flames after meeting in both 2014 and 2015.
 
Following opening weekend, UIC will continue its non-conference slate with UMKC, Northern Illinois, Chicago State, SIUE, Belmont and Middle Tennessee before its first Horizon League match on Sept. 15 at Northern Kentucky.