A hat trick by Vlad Jandric led Cleveland State to a 3-1 upset of UIC in Horizon League play in Cleveland Saturday night.  Jandric had two goals by the 14^th minute and the Vikings (2-5-1, 1-2-1 HL) dealt the Flames (8-3, 3-1 HL) their first conference loss in over a year.

"Cleveland State was a deserved winner tonight," head coach Sean Phillips said.  "They were able to punch us in the nose early, and they wanted it more tonight.  They deserve credit for being ready and starting well.

"You can't start flat on the road, especially against a team with the offensive abilities of Cleveland State.  Though it might not have shown in their scorelines, they created plenty of chances in their first seven games," he explained.  "Tonight they finished their chances."

How it Happened

• Sawyer Jackman was challenged early when Cleveland State worked the ball in deep and sent a cross toward the far post.  After it was redirected, an onrushing Viking was unable to get to the ball before Jackman claimed it to end the threat.
• Jackman was unable to make the stop a couple minutes later when the Vikings capitalized on their significant early momentum.  They took possession in the offensive half, with Vlad Jandric dribbling through open space to a spot where he could line up a low shot from right to left inside the far post.
• Play continued to take place in the UIC defensive end.  The Vikings worked the ball from side to side and sent a couple of shots toward the net, each time finding a Flame in place to block it.  UIC was unable to clear, and Jandric was the man on the spot again as he corralled the loose ball and sent it past a diving Jackman, just inside the right post.
• By the 30^th minute, the Flames were able to get righted offensively.  Alex Cervantes, a 25^th minute sub, won the ball twice in a sequence that ultimately ended with Viking keeper Alex Gyerman bobbling the ball but making the play.  Later, UIC put two shots in the vicinity of the goal but neither was a threat.
• Jandric got his hat trick in the 52^nd minute on a transition piece.  As the Vikings advanced the ball, he found himself unmarked along the right flank.  He received a deflection and scorched a missile into the net from the top of the box.
• Phillips credited Jandric for his play.  "Vlad was very advantageous with his opportunities.  He showed tonight why he is one of the top midfielders in our conference."
• The Flames showed signs of life before the hour mark.  They earned a couple of corner kicks, and kept the ball in the final third.  Markell Saddler went sideways to send a scissor kick with pace toward the net, but a nice save was made.  Shots by Garcia and Todd were blocked as the Vikings' defense kept numbers packed in the box.
• Gyerman thwarted a golden opportunity in the 68^th minute as he made a sparkling save of Oscar Gonzalez' header, and was large enough to keep the Flames from shooting a loose ball into the net.  Three minutes later, the crossbar saved Gyerman's shutout when Jake Nunez had a great look hit the woodwork.
• Jackman came out way beyond the penalty box to play the ball, but was beaten to the spot by a Viking player and had to retreat fast to his goal.  The Flames' back line got in position to surround the next Viking to touch the ball and thwart a shot at an open net, and moments later Jackman leapt to punch a shot over the bar.
• "You have to start well and you have to handle adversity on the road," Phillips noted.  "That being said, we applied pressure later in the game.  We had a shot ring off the crossbar and a corner kick get cleared off the line."
• UIC avoided being shut out for the second time of the season when Max Todd headed in Cristian Sanchez' short-range cross.  The Flames would keep the pressure on for the match's final seven minutes, but would manage just one more shot the rest of the way.

Facts and Figures

• With Jesus Perez sidelined due to a red card, the ninth different First XI started the game.  Josiah Ash, Markell Saddler, and Max Todd all started up front.
• UIC surrendered the match's first goal for the fourth time this season.  The team dropped to 1-3 when the opponent scores first.
• The loss snapped a 10 game unbeaten streak in Horizon League play dating to last Sept. 23.
• Todd had two shots on goal, and led the team with three shots overall.
• Todd's goal was his team-leading seventh of the season.
• Only Peter Becht joined Todd in taking multiple shots.
• Cleveland State put seven shots on goal to UIC's six, marking the fourth straight match that the Flames surrendered more shots on goal than they took.
• Following a 6-1 start, the Flames are 2-2 in their last four outings.
• UIC's 18 fouls were a season high.  Cleveland State committed 11 fouls and took the match's lone yellow card.

Up Next

• The Flames will have a week off before their next match.
• The team will be back in action Saturday, Oct. 6 at league-leading and nationally ranked Wright State.
• "We have to build on this experience," Phillips concluded.  "Everything we do between now and next Saturday has to be done with the goal of getting the desired result against Wright State."