In a hard fought, high quality match between two teams at the top of the Horizon League table, UIC and Wright State played to a 1-1 draw in Dayton Saturday night.

"It was a great college soccer game tonight.," head coach Sean Phillips said.  "Both teams had good attacking moments and very good defending moments.  Games like these are usually decided by which team makes the last play. Both teams had opportunities to make the play tonight and either just missed the opportunity or had it broken up by the other team.

"I thought our effort tonight was outstanding, and if we continue to bring that effort in our remaining games, we'll have a positive season."

Max Todd scored first in the 13^th minute.  That goal stood up through halftime, until Wright State took charge to start the second half, testing Sawyer Jackman until finally scoring the equalizer in the 58^th minute.  Peter Becht alone had three chances to put a second goal on the scoreboard, but couldn't connect on the finishing touch, as the Flames built up opportunities late in regulation.  In the end, their first draw of the season moved their record to 8-3-1 (3-1-1 HL) as the Raiders (8-1-2, 3-0-1 HL) likewise earned their 10^th point in Horizon League play.

How it Happened

• Each team had an opportunity in the first five minutes – Wright State on a free kick from top of box extended, UIC on a corner kick - but neither yielded a legitimate threat.
• Max Todd scored the match's first goal after the Flames worked the ball from the corner to the middle of the field.  He received the pass from Nestor Garcia in the middle of the box with his back to the goal and made a nice turnaround move, shooting to the right post.
• Sawyer Jackman was called upon to make four saves in the first half.  The first came on a direct shot, albeit from distance, immediately after Todd's goal.  Later, Alec Phillippe got behind the Flames' defense and two-touched the ball ahead to set and jabbed a shot which Jackman came out to stymie.
• Todd and Jesus Perez worked together on a pretty give-and-go advancing the ball well into the final third; Todd was able to get off a dangerous shot that hit the crossbar.
• Pau Mateo made the biggest play of the first half to keep the Raiders off the board.  The sequence started with a nice spin move along the sideline which freed a Raider to put a shot on goal.  Jackman poked that attempt away but Wright State kept it alive and sent a shot toward the left post, which is where Mateo had set up shop and was able to make the save.
• Peter Becht had two chances to score.  Early in the first half, Eduardo Perez looked to cross the ball to him in front of the goal, but the timing was just not right.  In the 35^th minute, Alwin Seitz initiated play forward to Todd who crossed to a streaking Becht near the vacated far post.  Peter's sliding attempt at what would have been a sure goal just didn't connect.
• Jackman was tested often in the second half, as possession favored Wright State for the majority of the half's first 30 minutes.  He made a sure save on a shot from a short angle, and later made another save on a high shot.  Wright State kept possession after that stop, and slipped one past Jackman when he came off his line to make a play.
• Wright State forced the Flames to hold their breath in the 70^th minute.  An angled shot hit the far post and bounded out, and the match remained level at 1.
• UIC asserted themselves in the late stages of the second half.  Todd's redirection on the doorstep of Wright State's goal was saved after Cristian Sanchez put a drive on goal.  Later, Oscar Gonzalez' open shot from 32 yards was saved over the bar.  And Jacob Graiber had a header cleared off the line.
• In the first overtime, the Flames had two quality chances to end the match.  Jesus Perez, from the top of box, shot just wide of the left post.  Todd tried the same turnaround move that he scored on earlier, but it too went wide.
• The second overtime did not yield as many chances.  Becht dove for the ball near the face of the goal again but couldn't connect, and Alwin Seitz shot high later in the same sequence.

Facts and Figures

• The First XI was shuffled, as Jake Nunez and Eduardo Garcia each got the first start of their career.  For Garcia, it was also his Flames debut.
• "Eduardo has been consistent in training, and we thought the matchup was right for him to get in the game," Phillips said.  "He put in a good shift tonight.  Jake has also been showing well in the opportunities he's gotten in games and in training.  It speaks to the depth of this team that any guy can step in and contribute in a positive manner."
• Wright State had a decisive advantage in shots, 20-14, becoming the third straight conference opponent to outshoot UIC.
• Each team had four corner kicks.
• UIC was whistled for 17 fouls to the home team's nine.
• Todd's seven shots were a game and season high.  His goal was his eighth, matching his career high.
• Sanchez contributed his third assist of the campaign.
• Jackman made six saves.  One save was credited to the team on Mateo's heroics.
• It was the first draw between the teams since 2012.  Six of the eight matches since that last draw were one-goal affairs.

Up Next

• Another team near the top of the conference standings is on deck for UIC.
• The Flames will host Milwaukee next Saturday in a Flames Field matinee.