UIC was pushed to the brink in a Horizon League semifinal Thursday night, as fifth-seeded IUPUI held the #2 Flames to one goal in a 1-1 draw.  When their mettle was tested in a penalty kick shootout, the Flames (11-5-2, 5-2-1 HL) responded with a 4-2 win that sent them to the conference championship match on Saturday.

Despite taking a season high 29 shots, 10 of which went on goal, and a season high 16 corner kicks, it wasn't until the 80^th minute that the Flames dented the scoreboard on an Oscar Gonzalez strike.  That goal merely forced overtime, as the Jaguars had scored on a breakaway earlier in the second half.  Though UIC carried possession to the tune of 17 shots in the second half alone, and five more in the overtime periods, IUPUI (5-10-4, 4-3-1 HL) made timely saves to force the issue to a shootout.

Jordan Moore made the clinching penalty shot in the fourth round after two Jaguars had missed high.

How it Happened

• The Flames came out with abundant energy and they had the best moments in the first 15 minutes.  They sent the ball inside the 6 where it ricocheted off a couple of players, and later had numbers downfield but couldn't connect on a through ball.  Then in the 13^th minute Markell Saddler had possession and drew a foul.  Max Todd's free kick buzzed the bar but stayed high.
• Jaguars keeper Quinn McCallion made his first imprint on the match in the 17^th minute.  Todd guided in a beautiful feed for Josiah Ash, but McCallion timed his approach perfectly and plucked the ball from its dangerous descent.
• IUPUI had two consecutive corner kicks that marked their first real threat near the half hour mark.  Pau Mateo used the bottom of his foot to guide the first one away from the near post, and Jacob Graiber cleared the second. 
• Graiber was on the spot again when IUPUI had a fast break and a brief 1v0 opportunity.  The All-Horizon League Second Team defender sprinted back to the box and got in front of the streaking Jaguar, and disrupted his dribble and sent the ball back upfield.
• UIC got back on the front foot and created more chances before halftime but could not execute the finishing touch.  A missed Jaguar clearance left Perez a chance very close to the frame; however his shot went wide.  Todd later popped the ball up to Ash, whose header went in the wrong direction.  Right before the interval, Saddler used nifty footwork to set up Todd, who had a shot deflected.  The ensuing corner kick came down to Saddler, who popped it high.
• Eduardo Garcia's eyes got wide when he took a shot to an open net.  With McCallion out of position, a defender blocked it off the line.
• IUPUI scored first in the 57^th minute.  They had a transition opportunity, and Graiber's slide was unable to get to the ball, leaving Sean Siasia an opening to chip a shot over Sawyer Jackman's left arm.
• Three straight corners went the way of UIC; on one of them a great chance opened up for Graiber who had a lethal header saved.  After a later corner kick, Pau Mateo took a shot that had juice but was blocked; he corralled the rebound and took another shot that hit the side of the net.
• As the Flames hunted for a goal of their own, they had some good looking shots starting in the 71^st minute.  Todd ripped a shot that required a leaping save.  Two minutes later Eduardo Garcia put a nice curling shot on goal for an easier save.  Later, Garcia and Ash played give-and-go resulting in a shot from the former that was deflected by an IUPUI player to the crossbar.
• Oscar Gonzalez scored the equalizing goal in the 80^th minute on a centering pass from Nestor Garcia.  Gonzalez settled the ball at his feet before shooting low and beating the keeper to the left.
• The Flames made two advances in the early stages of the first overtime, looking for Ash both times, but both times the keeper made a play on the ball before Ash could get to the ball.
• Todd had the best chance in the second overtime, putting topspin on a shot that hit the turf in front of the keeper.  McCallion stayed with it and made the save.
• In the penalty kick shootout, two Jaguars overshot with high kicks.  One hit the crossbar and one went well high of everything.  The Flames did not miss, with Todd, Gonzalez, Perez, and Jordan Moore all connecting for the 4-2 shootout win.

Postgame Reaction

• Jordan Moore
  
• Oscar Gonzalez
  
• Sean Phillips
  

Facts and Figures

• Sean Phillips stuck with the same First XI that the Flames deployed in their last match against Northern Kentucky.
• When the first half ended scoreless, it marked the first that UIC did not score in a half against IUPUI in three matches as Horizon League foes.
• The Flames took more shots than they had in any game since last year's match against IUPUI on September 30.
• It was UIC's first Horizon League tournament overtime match since a 2016 semifinal, also played at Wright State, when the Flames defeated Milwaukee.
• The Flames went to penalty kicks for the first time since a 2009 quarterfinal following a scoreless draw with Cleveland State.  The Vikings won that encounter, 3-1.
• Max Todd had game highs with seven shots and four on goal.
• Markell Saddler took a season high six shots.  Two went on frame.
• Freshman Eduardo Garcia, making his sixth start in the last seven games, also had season highs with five shots and two on target.
• Sawyer Jackman was called on for just one save in 110 minutes.
• Nestor Garcia picked up his second assist of the season.
• IUPUI's five shots and two on goal tied the low by a Flames opponent.

Up Next

• The Flames will play for the Horizon League championship Saturday night.
• Top-seeded Wright State will be the opponent.
• Kickoff will be at 5:00 Central.