UIC (1-3-1, 0-1 HL) will look to get back in the win column, and end a two-match losing streak, Saturday night when they host Wright State (3-2-1, 1-0 HL) in a rematch of last season's Horizon League Championship match.

"Over the years we have built a great rivalry with Wright State," head coach Sean Phillips said.  "Coach Davis has done a great job putting their program in a position to win championships year in and year out.  Both teams have lost some great players from last year's squads, but both teams return some great players as well."

The match will be the capstone to the program's annual Alumni, Friends, and Family Day.  Festivities during the day include an alumni match and a pregame social gathering.  Soccer alumni will be recognized at halftime, with a special reunion of the 2007 NCAA Elite Eight team.

Not only have the Flames lost two matches in a row, including last Saturday's conference opener at Detroit Mercy, but both have been via shutout.  Though the Flames have outshot their last two opponents 32-19, and 15-7 on goal, they have been unable to get a quality strike for that icebreaking goal.

The Flames fell behind early against Detroit Mercy as they conceded a penalty kick in the second minute.  The Titans added another goal in the 37^th minute, and none of the Flames' eight shots on goal got past the keeper.  Oscar Gonzalez and Markell Saddler each got off three shots, with two of Gonzalez' going on net.  The Flames were shown a season high four yellow cards.

 

Flames Lead the Nation

UIC's offensive pressure has resulted in bountiful chances to take corner kicks.  The Flames are first in the nation with 10.0 corner kicks per game.  They continued their dominance in the category against Detroit Mercy, taking nine corners while allowing just two.

Wright State defeated Duquesne on Tuesday night, 1-0, for their second straight shutout.  Austin Kinley was the goal scorer.  Keeper Joel Sundell was called upon to make only one save.  Sundell has played every minute in net for the Raiders this season, and has three shutouts and a 1.29 goals against average.  AJ Patterson (four goals) has scored half of the team's goals this season and has eight points, leading the team in both categories.

UIC and Wright State were the top two seeds in last year's conference tournament, and they met in Dayton for the Horizon League title.  UIC got a late goal that ended 86 minutes of scoreless play, and the 1-0 decision gave them the championship and the automatic NCAA berth.  It was also revenge for the meeting earlier in the regular season, won by Wright State 4-0.

"I anticipate a great game," Phillips continued, "as both teams look to play an attractive brand of soccer.  As it always is, the difference will be the team that finds a way to make a key play will get the points."

The Flames are 11-5-1 against Wright State at home, and 16-12-5 overall, in the series that dates back to 1991.
 
For additional notes on Saturday's contest, please continue below:
 
POLL POSITION: UIC garnered the most first place votes (6) in the Horizon League preseason poll, but was edged in the total voting by Oakland, who was the pick to finish first by one point (86-85) over the Flames.  Wright State, with two first place votes, was in turn right behind the Flames in third, lagging by just four points.

IRON MEN: Even with five overtime periods occurring over the first five games, Jose Fuentes has not come off the pitch for a single minute.  He has played all 491 minutes thus far, with Oscar Gonzalez right behind him at 481 minutes.  Jesus Perez (478 minutes) is also averaging more than 90 minutes per match.

JUGGLING THE STARTERS: Five different First XI's have been deployed over the first five matches.  Eighteen players have at least one start.  Only five players (Fuentes, Gonzalez, Perez, Vega, Garcia) have started every match.  Albert Arabik and Jordan Moore are the only players who have seen action but not started at least once.

SOME GOALS, PLEASE: The Flames have been shut out for two straight games.  Going back to the first half of the Marquette game, when they scored their last goal, it has been a run of 256:50 since they have dented the scoreboard.

GO WITH O.G.: Oscar Gonzalez has been a catalyst for the Flames' offense.  He leads the team in shots (19) and shots on goal (7).  His 3.8 shot per game average is good for a top-25 spot in all of Division I.  He is the only Flame with a goal and an assist, and is tied for the team lead with three points.

JESUS HELPS OUT: Jesus Perez assisted on both Flames goals against Marquette (9/1).  He leads the team and is ranked second in the Horizon League with three assists.  He is also frequently called upon to initiate action from the corner.  He has taken a team high 25 corner kicks – more than the Flames have given up to their opponents all season.

RACKING UP CORNER KICKS: UIC's offensive pressure has resulted in bountiful chances to take corner kicks.  The Flames are first in the nation with 10.0 corner kicks per game.  Against Eastern Illinois, the Flames took 15 corner kicks to the Panthers' none, and they continued their dominance in the category against Detroit Mercy, with a 9-2 edge.

GOLDEN GOAL: Junior Max Todd scored the golden goal at 105:31 to lift the Flames past their crosstown rivals DePaul.  It was Todd's first game winner of his career.

WILLING AND ABEL: Abel Guzman is one of the Flames' goal scorers this season, striking on a penalty kick against DePaul.  He took a team high 6 shots versus the Blue Demons as the Flames rallied to win.

SAWYER MAKES STOPS: Sawyer Jackman started the first three games of the season in goal, leading the Flames to a 1-1-1 start.  He shut out #25 Butler for over 90 minutes until the Bulldogs pushed through a golden goal in overtime.  After allowing two goals to DePaul, he kept the Blue Demons off the scoreboard for the rest of the game as the Flames rallied to win, 3-2.  He is first in the Horizon League with five saves per game and has a .750 save percentage.

NEW FACE IN NET: Sokratis Vasilas made his first appearance and first start in goal against Eastern Illinois.  He faced only one shot on goal and allowed one goal in the game.

THE DEFENSE RESTS: Back Joel Leon played every minute of the Flames' first three games, helping anchor a back line that shut out then-#25 Butler during regulation, and posted a win and a draw.  Leon got some well-deserved rest during the Eastern Illinois game.

LYES COMES ON: After easing into the lineup against DePaul, freshman Lyes Ghezali has started and played significant minutes in each of the last three games.  He was in the middle of the action often against Eastern Illinois, firing four shots, two of which were on goal.  He is second on the team with a .714 shot on goal percentage.

UPPING HIS MINUTES: Freshman midfielder Peter Becht started against DePaul, but was used sparingly as a late-half substitute against Butler and Marquette.  He came off the bench again against Eastern Illinois, but logged a season-high 45 minutes.

MAKING HIS MARK-ELL: Freshman Markell Saddler saw his first action of the season when he started against Detroit Mercy.  He tied for a team-high three shots, putting one on net.