The UIC Flames (4-5-1, 2-2 HL) exploded for three goals in the second half, and moved to .500 in Horizon League play with a 4-2 win over IUPUI (0-9-0, 0-4 HL) Saturday evening in Indianapolis.  It was the third straight win overall for UIC, thanks to accurate shooting form long distance, especially on goals by Oscar Gonzalez twice and Peter Becht.

"Any time you can get a road win, especially in the conference, it's a positive.  We had some very good individual and team performances tonight," head coach Sean Phillips said.

Game Headlines

• UIC Sets the Tone: The Flames had an excellent chance in the 15^th minute but were just off with back to back shots.  Jose Fuentes drilled an attempt from 18 yards that hit the right post, and Jesus Perez was on top of the rebound but his header went over the crossbar.  Perez initiated the sequence by making a nice play to keep the ball in the UIC offensive third.
• Flames Strike in 17^th Minute: Oscar Gonzalez put the Flames on the board first.  He headed down an attempted clear by IUPUI and cut loose with a shot that curled inside the far post.  His blast from outside the box gave the Flames the first goal of the game for the third straight contest.
• "We had a very bright start, we rattled the post early, and had a couple of good chances," Phillips said.  "OG [Gonzalez], like he did against NIU, takes a beautiful strike to make it 1-0.  Then we allowed them to get back in to the game, the ref gave them a penalty that they converted, and to their credit they had a decent amount of the end of the first half."
• Jaguars Pull Level on PK: In the 31^st minute, IUPUI reversed the game's momentum.  A foul was called on UIC just inside the penalty box.  Uriel Macias took the penalty kick, and though Sawyer Jackman guessed right, the ball was well-placed beyond his diving reach and the score was level, 1-1.
• Jaguars Defend Late Onslaught: The Flames had a handful of chances to add another goal before halftime, but the Jaguars played fundamental defense to prevent additional scoring.  Jacob Graiber headed a free kick past the onrushing IUPUI keeper on a well executed set piece, but another Jaguar defender was in place at the goal line to make the save.  UIC had three corner kicks in the final eight minutes and placed a couple of shots on goal.
• Flames Use Finesse for Second Goal: Albert Arabik put the Flames back in front just three minutes in to the second half.  Lyes Ghezali played the ball in to him from the right wing, and Arabik put a move on his man, dribbled in, and fired a shot past the keeper from eight yards.  Phillips noted, "Albert Arabik came on and continued his growth as player.  He had a positive impact with a nice goal."
• A Goal and an Ejection: Peter Becht added to UIC's lead in the 54^th minute.  He fired a shot from 25 yards, straight away, and it deflected off a Jaguar defender's head into the goal.  Just after Becht's goal, Cameron Petersen took down Joel Leon after Leon had cleared, and was given a red card.
• Teams Trade Quick Goals: IUPUI made it a one goal game after Jackman made a save but allowed a rebound, which Jared O'Dell chipped over the prone UIC keeper.  Just 18 seconds later, Gonzalez made it 4-2 with a beautiful blast from 25 yards that went just under the crossbar.  "I was disappointed that after we went up 3-1 and were a man up, we let IUPUI get back in it," Phillips mused.  "But our guys again found a way to make it 4-2 and they managed the rest of the game to get the result."
• "We continued to grow in a number of areas, we have other areas we need to continue to improve, and our next opportunity to do that is against another city rival in Loyola on Tuesday," Phillips concluded.

Facts and Figures

• Lyes Ghezali returned to the starting lineup, resulting in the tenth different starting lineup in as many games.
• The Flames applied continuous pressure for the first half hour of play.  By the game's 30^th minute, UIC had an 11-3 edge in shots, and the final margin was 29-9.
• UIC unleashed their most shots in a game since putting up 32 against Belmont last October 29.  Their margin of +20 shots was the biggest since that same game, when Belmont took only one shot.
• The Flames set season highs in goals and assists.  Their 29 shots were the most in any Horizon League game this season.
• Fourteen of UIC's shots were on goal, representing a season high.
• Arabik's and Becht's goals were the first of their respective careers.  Gonzalez had the first multi-goal game of his career.  It was also the second straight game in which Gonzalez had the contest's first goal.
• Jesus Perez and Lyes Ghezali each had two assists.  It was Perez' second two-assist game this season, while Ghezali logged the first assists of his Flames career.
• Jose Fuentes took a team-high six shots, tying for the most by an individual this year.
• Sawyer Jackman made three saves and improved to 4-3-1 on the season.

Up Next

• Another midweek game against an intracity rival awaits the Flames.
• UIC will make a very short road trip to Loyola for a rematch of last season's NCAA tournament match on Tuesday at 7:00 pm.