CHICAGO – UIC had the offensive explosion it was looking for Friday night when it turned out 33 shots and put four in the back of the net for the 4-0 shutout victory over Chicago State at Flames Field.
 
Bekah Allen, Olivia Everin, Morgan Carey and Autumn Rasmussen all scored for the Flames with their first goals of the year and the first of their career at UIC for Allen, Carey and Rasmussen. Carey additionally set herself apart from the rest of the field as she made up one-third of the Flames' shots with 11, setting a program record for shots in a single game.
 
A total of 14 of the 19 players who recorded minutes in the game contributed to the shot total, with Katy Karabetsos recording the next highest mark after Carey with five. Of the attempts, 14 were on goal with a team-high four from Carey and two apiece for Ashlin West and Lexi Gomez.
 
Annie DiCanio made her first start of the season in goal and went the complete game for the shutout. While the Cougars had just three shots in the match, setting a UIC record for fewest opponent attempts, two were on goal and DiCanio came up big to make the stops.
 
The Flames got off to a quick start as they took six shots and scored twice within the first five minutes of the game. Allen first put UIC ahead 1-0 just 2:04 into the game then Everin took the ball down the left side and converted 81 seconds later for the 2-0 Flames advantage.
 
The next six shots for UIC would be off the mark before West put one on goal in the 34th minute. Five more shots would come, including a look from Gomez that was saved, for a total of 18 in the half, marking the most in a half since registering 24 in last season's game against the Cougars. With possession in favor of the Flames, Chicago State had just one attempt in the half that went wide.
 
Just under two minutes into the second half, Carey got off UIC's first shot and put it into the empty net for her first collegiate goal and the 3-0 lead.
 
After DiCanio made her first save of the game in the 51st minute, Carey and Karabetsos each registered two shots apiece and combined for two shots on goal over the next 10 minutes of play.
 
Set up with a corner kick in the 62nd minute, Karabetsos sent it in and had it deflect off Messina before Rasmussen collected the ball and buried it for her first goal as a Flame. Off five shots in the following 10 minutes, UIC had five shot attempts with three on goal from Carey, West and Gomez.
 
The Flames continued to push and had two of their final four shots on goal from Jessica Christmas and Carey while DiCanio made a standout save in the 85th minute to keep the clean sheet.
 
UIC will return to Flames Field on Sunday to close out its homestand with SIUE at 1 p.m. CT. Fans who bring a donation (clothes, towels, blankets and/or shoes) to the game to help the victims of Hurricane Harvey will receive their ticket for $4.