UIC scored twice in the first half, and their back line frustrated DePaul all afternoon, in the Flames' 2-0 win at Wish Field Tuesday.  Max Todd and Peter Becht each scored a gorgeous goal for UIC (5-1), who has beaten their intracity rivals in four of the last five meetings.  DePaul (3-3) put three shots on goal, all of which were saved by Sawyer Jackman en route to his third clean sheet of the season.

Postgame Reaction

• Sean Phillips
  

How it Happened

• DePaul held possession along the sideline before sending the ball into the center of the box, as they tried to engineer the game's first credible threat in the 10^th minute.  The Flames' defense converged on the Blue Demons' attackers and sent the ball safely upfield.
• The Flames had a couple of attacking chances, one of which became lengthy when they earned a throw-in just at the corner.  The other saw Oscar Gonzalez, Jesus Perez, and Max Todd combine for interplay inside the box, but on neither occasion was the squad able to get off a shot.
• Sawyer Jackman made his first save when DePaul started a transition run and Istvan Wilhelms dribbled behind the defense on a breakaway.  Jackman came off of his line aggressively and smothered the ball, not allowing Wilhelms to operate freely.
• In the 30^th minute, the Flames drew first blood.  DePaul took a free kick which Jesus Perez cleared, and in transition Max Todd and Peter Becht played give-and-go with Todd dribbling down the left flank and, after seeing the keeper make the first move, shooting a low burner past him.
• In minute 34, DePaul sent a corner kick to the far corner of the box where a Blue Demon had room to get his head on it.  Becht was playing back inside the six and headed it away from Jackman's goal.
• Late in the half, the Flames doubled their lead.  Jesus Perez curled a corner kick with absolute precision to the near post.  A streaking Peter Becht needed only to lightly glance the ball off his head to send it into the net and make the score 2-0.
• Each team had a scoring chance during a back-to-back sequence in the 57^th minute.  First, DePaul sent a cross to a clear area where a lone teammate took a direct shot on goal, which Jackman saw cleanly and saved.  In transition, Josiah Ash got off a shot with some potential, but Drew Nuelle was equal to the task.
• Though UIC held possession for a good portion of the second half, it was their back line that made the biggest plays.  A Blue Demon created space and dribbled dangerously down the goal line, until Pau Mateo stepped up and knocked the ball away.  Later, Cristian Sanchez stood in an empty net after Jackman was drawn to the other side, and made a crucial save of an otherwise sure goal to maintain his team's two goal margin.
• As DePaul tried to advance into the final third in the game's last stages, the Flames stood tall and often generated an attack of their own.  Markell Saddler drew a penalty in the final minute, but Perez' try from the spot was saved.

Facts and Figures

• UIC's First XI saw Markell Saddler make his return, following his two-goal game on Saturday.  For the first time, the entire starting lineup was a unit that had been used previously.
• Todd's goal was his sixth of the season.  He has scored in every game but one.
• Becht logged his first goal of the campaign.  His assist on Todd's goal was the second of his career.
• Jackman saved all three shots the Blue Demons put on goal, matching his season high.
• UIC outshot their hosts, 11-6.  It was the Flames' lowest output of the year.
• Ash picked up his second yellow card of the campaign.  DePaul was carded twice and committed 14 fouls to the Flames' 12.
• UIC moved to 0-for-2 on the season on penalty kicks.  Todd and Perez have both had one saved.
• This was the third straight game between the teams at Wish Field that ended in a shutout.  UIC is 2-1 in those contests.

Up Next

• UIC will host Alumni Night at Flames Field Saturday.
• The Flames will play IUPUI at 7 pm.
• More information on the Alumni Night festivities can be found here.