UIC (2-0) shut out Providence (1-1) Sunday morning in Dallas, behind two goals from Max Todd and three saves from Sawyer Jackman.  Todd scored three goals in the team's two games in the SMU Tournament, which did not crown a formal champion but saw UIC emerge as the lone undefeated team.

"I'm very pleased with the performance today," head coach Sean Phillips said.  "We had a tight turnaround after having found a way to get a result on Friday.  There was still a lot of heat at 10 am and we were facing a quality Big East opponent in Providence who was a great test for the guys.  Our guys were up to the challenge."

After the tournament concluded, Todd was named MVP.  Oscar Gonzalez, Jesus Perez, and Cristian Sanchez joined him on the All-Tournament Team.

How it Happened

• UIC struck early, and struck first.  Max Todd took the free kick after Joao Serrano was shown a yellow card about 28 yards from the goal, and struck a lethal ball past the keeper.  It was Todd's second goal in the two Dallas matches, and each gave the Flames the lead.
• Markell Saddler took the lead for UIC as the first half continued.  He sent a shot on goal that Colin Miller stopped, and later took two shots in a two minute span, one of which became Miller's second save.
• Providence got off the first shot of the second half, which Sawyer Jackman capably saved.  After Todd forced another save on Miller's goal, the Friars regained momentum with two strikes in 70 seconds.  Jackman was up to the task on the first, while the Flames' back line blocked the second.
• "Sawyer made some key saves to keep us in front," Phillips said, adding, "Providence came at us in the second half.  The guys were disciplined defensively and our restart defense was outstanding."
• UIC's best chance to make it a 2-0 affair came in the 61^st minute.  Jesus Perez sent a cross into the box, where Josiah Ash connected but put his shot on the post.
• Todd continued to be the driving force in the match.  He put a shot on goal in the 70^th minute, forcing Miller to make another save.  On the ensuing corner kick, Todd sent the ball in front to Jaime Alonso, whose header went toward the goal but sailed over the crossbar.
• Todd put the finishing touch on his stellar match with the insurance goal at minute 84.  Oscar Gonzalez played the ball up to him in the left side of the box, where he put it past Miller.  Phillips described it as "a true counter attack goal.  We absorbed the attack, connected a few passes, and Max got behind the defense for an outstanding finish from OG."
• After Providence made a last, desperate run that included two blocked shots, Alex Cervantes scored his first goal as a Flame.  Saddler hit the post with a 90^th minute shot, and Cervantes was in the right spot to send the rebound into the net.  "Unlike Friday, we got that third goal," negating the potential pressure of a 2-1 score.  "Like Friday, guys who came off the bench provided a lift.  Cervantes didn't play Friday but gave us a boost to finish the game off."
• "Especially in a Friday-Sunday setting, you have to put your body on the line," Phillips noted.  "Our guys did that, and after we absorbed the pressure, our goals were the result of passing out of our good defending.  Providence made it hard to do that at time but the quality of our attackers shone through.  Nestor [Garcia] and {Jaime] Alonso deserve credit for absorbing direct play and wide play and clearances in a good manner."

Facts and Figures

• Phillips made one change in his First XI from Friday's match.  Pau Mateo got his first start with the Flames.
• The Flames started with precision again, putting three of their first four shots on goal.  Seven of their first eight shots found the frame on Friday.
• For the match, half of UIC's 14 shots were on goal.  The teams each attempted 14 shots, but only three of Providence's were on the frame.
• Todd in particular stood out.  Of his five shots, four were on goal, and two went in.  Saddler was the only other player in the match to register multiple shots on goal.
• Each team committed 10 fouls.  PC earned two yellow cards, the Flames one, on Jacob Graiber.
• Corner kicks were at a premium.  Only three opportunities for each side arose.
• Jackman finished with three saves and registered his first clean sheet of the season, and sixth of his Flames career.
• Gonzalez had an assist for the second straight match.  It is the second time in his career he has done so.

Up Next

• UIC will be on the road again for its next match Friday.
• Des Moines, Iowa will be the destination as the Flames take on Drake.
• The match will start at 5 pm and will be televised on ESPN+.