LAS VEGAS – While enduring temperatures near 100 degrees, UIC opened the 2018 season against UNLV on Friday night at Peter Johann Memorial Field. Despite scoring the first goal of the match, the Flames dropped a 5-1 decision to the Rebels on the first day of the UNLV Invitational.
 
Megan Bowman was responsible for scoring UIC's first goal of the 2018 season. Bowman's shot was one of just eight in the match as UNLV had 22 attempts. Three more chances reached on goal from Tamae Douglas, Annie Brown and Alliyah Parker.
 
Tara Khayam played the complete game in goal was forced to make six saves as the Rebels put 11 of their shots on goal.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED

• UIC's persistent attack from the start of the match paid off in just the eighth minute of play as it claimed the 1-0 lead. Emily Valentine sent in the Flames' third corner kick of the match and connected with Brown, who had her shot saved. Fortunately, Bowman was right on the rebound as she headed the ball into the left corner for her first collegiate goal.
• After possession was in favor of UIC, UNLV came out and took nine shots over a span of 20 minutes that featured a shot off the goal post and the eventual game-tying goal from Robin Pollard in the 32nd minute following a save from Khayam. The Rebels took two more shots in the half while the Flames had all six of their looks come in the first 10 minutes.
• It was a slow start to the second half but UIC was able to take an attempt at the foot of Kennedy Messina. However, it was UNLV who found the go-ahead goal from Caitlyn Kreutz in the 61st minute on another rebound after an initial stop from Khayam.
• Thirteen minutes later in the 73rd minute, the Rebels' Hevani Haunga took the ball down the left side and passed it off to Pollard, who was waiting at the top of the box and sent it straight in to go up 3-1.
• With under 10 minutes remaining in the game, UNLV's Kaila Brinkman went back-to-back to score two goals in a span of 78 seconds for the 5-1 advantage.

 
NOTABLES

• The first starting XI of the season featured seven underclassmen, including five freshmen (Bowman, Brown, Chiara Ferraro, Emily Kavanaugh, Kennedy Messina) who received their first collegiate starts.
• Bowman's goal was the first scored by the Flames in a season opener since 2015, when they took a 2-1 victory over Morehead State.
• The five goals allowed was the most for the program since 2015 when it had the same result against Milwaukee.

 
NEXT UP

• The Flames close out play at the UNLV Invitational on Sunday against UC Santa Barbara at noon CT.