CHICAGO – The UIC women's soccer team (0-3-0) will endure a grueling slate over a five-day span as it is slated for three games at Flames Field against in-state opponents. The Flames will first face Northern Illinois (1-1-1) Wednesday at 7 p.m. CT before welcoming Chicago State (1-3-0) Friday at 7 p.m. and SIUE (2-1-0) Sunday at 1 p.m.
 
UIC is in search of its first win of the season after it fell to UMKC, 2-0, on Friday (Aug. 25). The Flames were held to just 10 shots with attempts on goal from Keri Birkenhead, Autumn Rasmussen and Naomi Rushe, while Kelly Fritz was forced to save six of the Kangaroos' 19 shots.
 
Through three games, UIC ranks fifth in the Horizon League in shot attempts with 41. Birkenhead leads the team with nine shots and three on goal while Tamae Douglas, the Flames' lone goal scorer, has taken eight shots alongside Olivia Everin. Twelve different players have made up the shot total and have all put at least one attempt on goal.
 
Fritz has played every minute in goal and has racked up 13 saves, with a season-high seven coming against Eastern Michigan (Aug. 20), after seeing 47 shots being taken.
 
UIC has gone up against this week's opponents at least once over the past three seasons as it is 0-0-1 against NIU, 1-0-0 versus Chicago State and 1-2-0 with SIUE.
 
NIU heads downtown after picking up a win over Western Illinois, 1-0, tying with New Mexico State, 0-0, and taking a 2-0 loss at Wisconsin. The Huskies have executed 34 shots and put 12 on goal as Kyleigh Dominguez (10) and Natalie Yass (7) make up half the effort and Delaney Loprieno owns the lone goal. Amy Annala has been the starting goalkeeper, making 12 saves on 38 shots faced. Last season, the Flames tied with the Huskies, 0-0, in double overtime.
 
Chicago State owns one win on the year against Saint Xavier, 1-0, while it fell to Idaho State, 3-0, Northern Iowa, 5-0, and Campbell, 9-0. Thirty-six shots have been taken by the Cougars with 22 on goal as Taylor Rankin (8) and Sara Marcotte (7), the lone goal scorer, have paced the team. Goalkeeping duties have been split between Gabby Klemp, Audra Wisehart and Bailey McFarland as Klemp has made a team-high 18 stops. UIC set a program record six goals, 39 shots and 19 shots on goal in last year's 6-1 win over Chicago State.
 
SIUE rides a two-game win streak after defeating Cal Poly, 3-2, and Western Illinois, 1-0, and will face Saint Louis at home Thursday before heading to Chicago. The Cougars have been limited to 28 shots but have put 13 on goal as four goals have been scored by Caroline Hoefert (2), MacKenzie Litzsinger and Courtney Benning. Juli Rossi has made 18 saves in goal after facing 41 attempts across 277 minutes of action. The Flames have gone up against SIUE every season and had their win come in overtime in 2015.