UIC scored two goals quickly, and built a 3-0 lead over Milwaukee in the first half.  But thanks to a Panther comeback, it wasn't until Max Todd completed a hat trick in overtime that the Flames could secure a 4-3 win on their home pitch Saturday afternoon.

Jacob Graiber and Todd put UIC (9-3-1, 4-1-1 HL) up 2-0 before eight minutes had been played.  Todd's second goal, which made it 3-0, was answered quickly as the Panthers (6-5-2, 2-2-1 HL) scored three of their own in a span of 14 minutes.  The home crowd had to wait only 54 seconds of extra time until Todd finished things off.

How it Happened

• The Flames opened the scoring early when they earned a corner kick in the fourth minute.  Oscar Gonzalez served it in, and Markell Saddler got the first touch.  He sent it in the direction of Jacob Graiber, who had an easy time of heading it into the net.
• Just three minutes later, Max Todd doubled his team's lead.  Saddler played the ball forward, serving a nice pass to a wide open Todd high on the right side of the box.  Todd danced in and laced a shot to the left post.
• Graiber was inches away from a second goal on another corner kick.  His header hit the post but bounced right back to him.  Even from close to the net, he shot high and the threat was over.
• UIC continued applying pressure, having several shots blocked by Milwaukee's back line.  On one of those blocks, in the 33^rd minute, the Panthers were called for a hand ball.  Todd lined up the free kick in the semicircle, and blasted it past Freddy Lorenzen to make it 3-0.
• In the blink of an eye, the visitors rebounded and got on the board.  They had a corner kick of their own, and after it ricocheted off a couple of players, a Panther was in place to send it into an empty section of the frame.
• Not five minutes later, the Panthers were right back in the thick of things.  They won a 50/50 ball near midfield with Evan Conway sending it ahead to Alex Sykes.  With the other 19 players caught up in the battle for possession, Sykes had a clear path to dribble in on Sawyer Jackman, whom he beat with an elevated shot.
• Milwaukee completed their rally shortly after the second half began.  Playing aggressively, they had a shot saved by Jackman but were in place to grab the rebound for an immediate shot.  That was blocked by a sliding Flame, but yet again the carom found a Panther, who shot over the fallen bodies to equalize the score.
• UIC continued to pepper the Panthers' end with shots and started to hold the majority of possession as the second half wore on.  Meanwhile, physicality increased with both sides being whistled for a handful of fouls.
• Graiber challenged Lorenzen in the 85^th minute, and Jesus Perez had a shot late in regulation, but the match was destined for overtime.
• Todd made sure that the extra session would not last long.  He finished what Gonzalez started with a throw-in, receiving the ball back immediately and passing to Perez outside the left corner.  Perez played ahead to Todd with a short pass, and the Scotsman took a couple of steps toward the goal before sending in the golden goal.

Facts and Figures

• Markell Saddler returned to the starting lineup.  Eduardo Garcia remained in the First XI and made his first Flames Field start.
• Todd's hat trick was the first of his career.  It was his second multi-goal game, both coming this season.
• Todd had his fifth game-winning goal of the season.  He also scored golden goals against DePaul and Cleveland State last season, the latter also on the team's annual Saturday afternoon contest.
• Todd has scored in three straight matches.  Saddler and Perez each have an assist in three of the last five outings.
• It was the first hat trick by a Flame since Ivan Stanisavljevic scored thrice against Green Bay October 1, 2011.
• By scoring four goals, the Flames doubled the previous highest total allowed this year by Milwaukee.  No Horizon League team had scored more than one.
• The match was the sixteenth in the last 19 between the teams to be decided in a draw or by one goal.
• Saddler had his second multi-assist game of the season, as did Gonzalez.
• Sawyer Jackman made five saves.
• The Flames outshot their guests 25-11, taking a season high number of attempts.  However, it was the Panthers who had the shots on goal advantage, 8-7.
• UIC took the lion's share of the match's corner kicks, 8-3.
• Perez added to his team-leading assist total, posting his tenth.  Saddler and Gonzalez remained tied for second on the squad with seven apiece.

Postgame Reaction

• Max Todd
  
• Sean Phillips
  

Up Next

• The Flames will step out of conference play when they host Northwestern on Tuesday.
• The match will serve as the team's Senior Night.  The team's eight seniors will be honored in a pregame ceremony.