#20 UIC (2-1) will host #10 Western Michigan (1-2) in their home opener Monday night at Flames Field.  The top-20 matchup will kick at 7:00 pm and can be seen on ESPN+.  Though each team is coming off a loss, their respective strong opening weekends landed them in Top Drawer Soccer's national rankings.

"While Western Michigan may have graduated some key pieces from their 2017 Top 16 NCAA Tournament team, they have returned and added quite a bit of talent," head coach Sean Phillips said of the defending MAC champions.  "I expect to see a very good game between two 2017 NCAA Tournament programs.  WMU will test us in a number of ways on Monday.  I know we are looking forward to it."

Last Time Out

• The Flames suffered their first loss of the season on Friday, falling to Drake 3-1.
• Max Todd scored UIC's lone goal late in the match.  Drake scored twice within three minutes early, and added their third goal before the Flames could get on the scoreboard.
• Freshman Alwin Seitz assisted on Todd's goal for his first point as a Flame.
• UIC unleashed 18 shots, 10 on goal - both season highs - but scored just once for their lowest output to date.

Flames to Watch

• Todd has scored four goals in UIC's first three games, marking the best start by a Flame since Eric Frazier scored three goals in the team's first three matches in 2011.
• Jesus Perez had the secondary assist on Todd's goal Friday.  He has three helpers on the season to lead the squad.
• The Flames' back line of Manny Cerritos, Jacob Graiber, Pau Mateo, and Cristian Sanchez allowed a season low seven shots to Drake.
• Todd and Sawyer Jackman are the reigning Horizon League Offensive and Defensive Players of the Week respectively.

Scouting Western Michigan

• Western Michigan allowed two goals in a five minute span, losing their top-10 showdown with Butler, 2-0, on Thursday.
• The Broncos did not muster a shot on goal the entire match.
• Kosti Moni and Cameron Sipple have logged the team's two goals this season.  Mike Melaragni and Giuseppe Vitale each have an assist.
• Elijah Michaels has made three saves for a .500 save percentage in the team's three games.

Bucking the Broncos

• UIC and Western Michigan ignited their rivalry with eight meetings in the 1990s.
• The Broncos held a narrow 4-3-1 series edge in that decade.  The teams have met just twice since.
• WMU has a 3-2-1 advantage in the six meetings at Flames Field.  Monday's match will be the third straight in the series played in Chicago.