Markell Saddler scored two goals for the second time this season, leading UIC (7-2, 3-0 HL) to a 3-0 win over Detroit Mercy (1-7, 0-3 HL) Saturday night at Flames Field.  His goals came just three minutes apart in the first half, both on headers, and gave UIC an important cushion as the Flames were playing a man down.

Jesus Perez scored the game-icing goal in the 84^th minute.  Sawyer Jackman faced nine shots on goal and saved them all, posting his fifth clean sheet of the season and setting a career high in saves.

How it Happened

• The physical tone of the match was set in the fifth minute when Ryan Halloran upended Max Todd near midfield.  Halloran's action earned him a yellow card, and Todd's retaliation while prone resulted in a red card and a 10-man Flames squad for the rest of the match.
• Markell Saddler broke the ice in minute 20 as the Flames worked the ball forward, reversing field before Cristian Sanchez played forward to Oscar Gonzalez.  Gonzalez' cross found a streaking Saddler in position inside the 6 to head it past Devin Mendez.
• Saddler doubled his pleasure less than three minutes later.  After the Titans played the ball across the goal line, Jesus Perez laced the corner kick right just past the near post, and once again Saddler used his noggin to put the Flames on the board.
• Detroit Mercy's best shot came in the 39^th minute.  A feed from the corner found Jake Poorman on the left flank, where his first touch was a clean, bending shot to Sawyer Jackman's left, which the senior keeper leaped toward and batted away.
• The visitors applied forward pressure throughout much of the second half.  They earned a corner kick, which resulted in a shot and a save, but the loose ball was volleyed in front of the net to Justin Murray.  He went airborne for a beautiful looking bicycle kick which sent a rocket high over the crossbar.
• Of UIC's limited opportunities in the second half, two came in rapid succession in the 80^th minute.  Following one of the Titans' 15 fouls, a free kick commenced from near the corner, and after it got sent out of bounds, an actual corner kick was taken.  Neither ball was played to an advantageous spot for a shot on goal.
• Transition offense got the Flames their third goal.  Saddler figured in this one, too, taking possession in UIC's defensive third and starting the counter.  He played ahead to Pau Mateo, who dropped the ball off to a streaking Jesus Perez in a perfect place for Perez to chip the ball past Mendez on the run.

Facts and Figures

• Mike Jimenez made his first start of the season, and his first since the NCAA tournament match against Loyola Nov. 16, 2016.  Max Todd returned to the First XI.
• Todd's red card was the first of his career.
• Detroit Mercy was issued a red card late in the match.  They also received four yellow cards; the Flames, two.
• Saddler scored two goals for the second time this year.  He had a brace in the Horizon League opener against Oakland.  Adding in his assist, he had a career high five points in the match, which is also the highest total in a game by any Flame this season.
• Perez had a goal and an assist for the first time.  He moved into the team lead with 14 points.
• Saddler (4) and Perez (3) accounted for the majority of UIC's eight shots.  They put two apiece on goal.
• Jackman was called on to make a career high nine saves.
• Mateo had an assist for the second time in his freshman campaign.
• Detroit Mercy's 17 shots and nine on goal were both season highs for Flames opponents.
• UIC was limited to a season low eight shots, and a season low-tying four shots on goal.

Postgame Reaction

• Markell Saddler
  
   
• Sean Phillips
  

Up Next

• The Flames will stay home for a Tuesday night match.
• They will welcome crosstown rival Loyola to Flames Field.