CHICAGO – UIC (4-13-1, 3-5-0 HL) will close out the regular season Friday night at 7 p.m. CT when it hosts Northern Kentucky (9-5-1, 5-2-1 HL) in a crucial match at Flames Field.
 
HORIZON LEAGUE STANDINGS
The Flames currently rank in a tie for seventh in the Horizon League standings. With the top six teams advancing to the postseason tournament, a win or tie against the second-ranked Norse is required to better their chances of making the playoffs, with the results of Oakland vs. IUPUI and Detroit Mercy vs. Wright State being deciding factors.
 
If UIC reaches to the tournament, it will be the second straight year they advanced after they made it for the first time in program history in just its fourth season of competition in 2017.
 
LAST TIME OUT
The Flames suffered a tough 1-0 loss on the road last Saturday (Oct. 20) at Oakland after having the match delayed nearly seven hours due to weather. There were only a combined 10 shots in the match with five on each side as UIC put three of its attempt on goal. Tara Khayam made one save against the Golden Grizzlies as they put two shots on goal.
 
SEASON STAT LINE
The Flames are nearing 200-plus shots for the fourth straight season as they sit with fourth most in the Horizon League at 195, as 82 have been on goal. A total of 101 attempts have come in conference play with Emily Kavanaugh (24), Rebeca Pallo (18), Tamae Douglas (11) and Emily Valentine (11) leading the squad and putting 30 of the 43 shots on goal.
 
Prior to its last match, UIC had scored seven of its 17 goals on the year over the course of three games, contributing to its 10 conference goals. Kavanaugh owns the most goals and points by a freshman in program history with five and 13, respectively. She is one goal away from tying the program record for goals in a season (6) and is already tied for the top mark in points (13). All but two of those points have come in conference action to tie for the top mark in the League. Douglas' production has also been key as she holds two conference goals, both coming as game-winners, and three overall.
 
Khayam has gone 2-2-0 in Horizon League play this season while making nine of her 45 saves on the year and allowing eight goals for a 1.87 goals-against average.
 
SCOUTING THE NORSE
After a 4-3-0 start to the year, NKU has gone 5-2-1 in conference play with wins over Green Bay, 2-1, Youngstown State, 2-0, Detroit Mercy, 3-2 (2OT), IUPUI, 1-0, and Oakland, 2-1. Its two losses came within the last three games as it was defeated by Cleveland State, 2-1 (OT), and Milwaukee, 1-0.
 
The Norse own 176 shots this season and 71 on goal, while 115 shots have been attempted against conference opponents. Samantha Duwel (31) and Shawna Zaken (8) have had the top production in League play, combining for 25 of the 44 shots on goal. They also own seven of the team's 11 goals, with a team-best four from Duwel, as Zaken and Emily Soltes each own five assists.
 
Goalkeeping has been controlled by Emily Lohmann all season as she has tabbed six shutouts and made 49 saves in 1,399 minutes with 14 goals allowed for a 0.90 GAA. In conference action, she has three clean sheets, 17 saves and a 0.83 GAA off seven goals allowed.
 
ALL-TIME SERIES VS. NORTHERN KENTUCKY
The Flames are 0-3-0 in the all-time series with the Norse since they join the League in 2015. Last season on the road, NKU pulled away for a 2-0 win as UIC has never scored in the series.