CHICAGO – After tying the match at 1-1, UIC (2-9-0, 0-2-0 HL) could not answer the three additional goals scored by Milwaukee (10-0-1, 2-0-0 HL) as it dropped a 4-1 decision Saturday night at Flames Field. Naomi Rushe scored the lone goal for the Flames with her third of the season.
 
UIC was outshot, 20-10, and had Rushe's goal serve as its lone shot on goal of the match. Ashlin West put up a team-high three shots as Emily Valentine followed with two attempts.
 
Tara Khayam played her third-consecutive complete game in goal as she made five saves in the match.
 
The Flames were faced with an even matchup in the first half of play as each team attempted seven shots and split possession. Nine minutes into the match on their fourth shot, the Panthers went ahead 1-0 as Anna Smalley picked up a deflection from McKaela Schmelzer and shot it in from six yards out.
 
UIC responded in the 16th minute to knot the score at 1-1. After West had her shot blocked, Keri Birkenhead collected the ball and passed it off to Rushe, who hooked the ball into the opposite side of the net for her third goal of the season and just the second tally allowed by Milwaukee this season.
 
In the remaining minutes of the first half, West had two looks but both came off the mark as Bekah Allen and Rebeca Pallo followed with shots sent wide then Valentine had her chance blocked.
 
With 23 seconds to go, the Panthers' Saebryn Peel took the ball down the left side and crossed it into the middle of the box where Smalley was waiting to give Milwaukee the 2-1 lead into halftime.
 
The Flames' first shot of the second half did not come until the 59th minute when Douglas sent a header over the goal. The Panthers came back one minute later and increased its lead to 3-1 as Aubrey Krahn scored with Milwaukee's seventh shot of the match on a pass from Lourdes Onwuemeka.
 
After Valentine sent a shot wide in the 74th minute, Khayam was forced to make back-to-back stops in the following five minutes. A look from Autumn Rasmussen would be the final shot of the game for UIC as she sailed it high in the 82nd minute.
 
Khayam made another save in the 86th minute but could not come up with the stop when Smalley secured a hat trick with just over 60 seconds to play for the 4-1 advantage.
 
Next up, the Flames will hit the road for a midweek match Wednesday at new Horizon League member IUPUI. Kickoff is slated for 6 p.m. CT at Carroll Stadium.