VALPARAISO, Ind. – UIC had to play a full 110 minutes for the first time this season before a 0-0 (2OT) final was decided Wednesday night against Valparaiso at Brown Field. The shutout is the third of the season for the Flames while the tie is the first for the program since 2016.
 
Nine shots were attempted on the night by UIC with three reaching on goal. Keri Birkenhead, Rebeca Pallo, Naomi Rushe and Tamae Douglas all had two shots apiece with Meaghan Smith adding the final tally. Of the looks on target, two were owned by Birkenhead with the other coming from Rushe.
 
Haley Leanna made her eighth straight start in goal and played the first 45 minutes, during which time she made two stops on seven shots taken by the Crusaders. Tara Khayam entered the match at halftime, making her first appearance in over a month after last facing Illinois State (Sept. 2), and went the rest of the way while stopping four shots. The pair shared the clean sheet, which is the third overall for Leanna and first for Khayam.
 
The Flames go to 2-11-1 on the year while Valpo is now 3-6-2.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED

• The UIC defense was a big contributor in the first half, notably in the opening 25 minutes as it continuously broke up the attack of Valpo and allowed just one shot off target. In that span, the Flames only generated one shot as Birkenhead had the lone strike of the half in the 13th minute as she put up a shot from distance that was saved.
• In the final 20 minutes of the first half, the Crusaders attempted six shots and put two on goal. Of the looks on target, the only one that truly threatened was in the 42nd minute that forced Leanna to make a diving stop.
• UIC came out of the break and got a shot off within the first two minutes as Pallo sent a chance high. Three shots followed for Valpo with Khayam making a stop on one before Birkenhead registered her second shot on goal of the game in the 58th minute.
• Douglas came up with a great look for the Flames in the 68th minute as she took the ball down the right side and hooked a shot at the goal but sailed it high. The Crusaders best attempt came nearly 10 minutes later and Khayam was able to get the save on the strike.
• Into overtime, a foul in the 93rd minute set UIC up with a free kick from 26 yards out. Rushe stepped up for the attempt but had it blocked. Another chance came three minutes later with a rush from Emily Kavanaugh but she was called for offsides. Valpo had two looks in the first extra 10 with one sent wide and another being scooped up by Khayam.
• Possession was controlled by the Flames in double overtime. Following a blocked shot from distance by Smith, the best scoring chance of the match was created in the 105th minute with Rushe getting the final pass and firing off a quality shot that was saved. The Crusaders came right back with their own look but Khayam came up big with a leaping save.

 
NOTABLES

• A new group of starters saw the pitch for the Flames. It was the 11th different combination of the season with just four upperclassmen in the lineup with Alexis Jakuszewski, Rebeca Pallo, Jennifer Saviski and Emily Valentine.
• The last time UIC played to a draw was back in 2016, when it took a 0-0 tie with Belmont (Aug. 21).
• The Flames' last shutouts came in back-to-back fashion against Detroit Mercy (Sept. 13), 2-0, and Central Michigan (Sept. 16), 1-0.

 
NEXT UP

• UIC will close out its road stint Saturday when it returns to Horizon League play in Dayton, Ohio, against Wright State. Kickoff is set for 2 p.m. CT at Alumni Field.