The UIC Flames (1-2-1) will venture to Detroit to take on the Titans of Detroit Mercy (2-0-1) in the Horizon League opener for both squads.  Kickoff will be Saturday at 1:00 Central from Titan Field.

In looking ahead to the road trip, head coach Sean Phillips said, "Detroit is always a tough place to play.  Coach Deren continues to do a great job.  Their team is disciplined, tight, and excellent on set pieces."

The Flames dominated most areas of the stat sheet except the most important one in a 1-0 loss to Eastern Illinois in their last outing on Sunday.  UIC outshot their intrastate rivals 17-5, including a 7-1 edge in shots on goal, and took 15 corner kicks while not allowing the Panthers to take a single corner.  But Mike Novotny, the nation's leader in saves, turned away all seven shots he faced and the Panthers made a 19^th-minute goal stand up.

Lyes Ghezali and Oscar Gonzalez led the team with four shots each.  Ghezali placed a game high two on goal in his second straight start.  It was the first time all year that the Flames did not go to overtime.

As his team transitions into Horizon League play, Phillips believes success in a couple of important areas will be key to a favorable result.  "It will be a good challenge for our guys as we start the second season to take what I believe we're good at, which is possession and moving the ball, and make sure we're disciplined defending set pieces and transition.  Finally, we must take advantage of our opportunities so we can get a result on Saturday."

Detroit Mercy took a trip to the west coast where they tied St. Mary's, 3-3, on Saturday.  Things looked grim for the Titans as they trailed by a goal in the 90^th minute.  A foul in the box with just three seconds left gave them new life, and Tyler Moorman converted the penalty kick.  The Gaels outshot Detroit Mercy by 20, but Robbie Beckwell made nine saves to ensure the Titans never trailed by more than one.

Spiro Pliakos is the team's leader in goals (three) and points (six).  He was the Horizon League Player of the Week, as well as a member of the College Soccer News National Team of the Week, following the Titans' 2-0-0 start to the season, tallying four points in wins over Stetson and LIU-Brooklyn.  The Titans are ranked ninth in the United Soccer Coaches' Great Lakes Regional Poll this week.

Phillips continued, "It's always been difficult to break Detroit down, and when you combine that with two very talented attacking players in Moorman and Pliakos, I'm not surprised at all they've gotten off to a great start."

The teams battled to a 2-2 draw in last season's meeting at Flames Field.  Max Todd had a goal and an assist.  Each team scored on a penalty kick, but the Flames outshot Detroit Mercy 28-8.  It was the second straight tie in the series, in which Detroit Mercy holds a slim overall edge of 11-9-5.

For additional notes on Saturday's contest, please continue below:
 
IRON MEN: Even with five overtime periods occurring over the first four games, Jose Fuentes has not come off the pitch for a single minute.  He has played all 401 minutes thus far, with Oscar Gonzalez right behind him at 391 minutes.  Jesus Perez (388 minutes) and Ricardo Vega (380 minutes) are the other Flames averaging more than 90 minutes per match.

JUGGLING THE STARTERS: Four different First XI's have been deployed over the first four matches.  Seventeen players have at least one start.  Only five players (Fuentes, Gonzalez, Perez, Vega, Garcia) have started every match.  Albert Arabik is the only player who has seen action but not started at least once.

GO WITH O.G.: Oscar Gonzalez has been a catalyst for the Flames' offense.  He leads the team in shots (16) and shots on goal (5).  His 4.0 shot per game average is good for a top-20 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 11^th in the nation with three assists.  He is also frequently called upon to initiate action from the corner.  He has taken a team high 19 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 tied for third nationally with 10.25 corner kicks per game.  Against Eastern Illinois, the Flames took 15 corner kicks to the Panthers' none.

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 every minute of the last two 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 .667 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.