CHICAGO – UIC (0-6-0) will step away from playing at home this weekend as it is slated to take on a pair of Michigan foes. The Flames will make their first stop Friday in Kalamazoo to challenge Western Michigan (4-1-0) at WMU Soccer Complex at 4 p.m. CT before they head further east to Ypsilanti for a Sunday matchup with Eastern Michigan (3-3-0) at Scicluna Field at noon.
 
LAST TIME OUT
UIC capped a four-match homestand on Sunday (Sept. 2) when it went to battle with Illinois State. The Flames tried to work back from a five-goal deficit but ended up on the losing side of the 5-2 decision. Kennedy Messina and Emily Kavanaugh scored in the final 20 minutes of the game as UIC had nine of its 11 shots come in the second half.
 
SEASON STAT LINE
UIC owns 62 shots on the year after producing 10+ in three of the last four games. Its total tanks fifth among Horizon League foes while its 25 shots on goal is tied for fourth. Off the attempts, five goals have been scored while the opposition has converted on 26.
 
Rebeca Pallo is the lone player with double-digit shot attempts with 11 as she holds a team-high five SOG. Keri Birkenhead is next in order with nine, followed by Tamae Douglas, Kavanaugh and Emily Valentine with six apiece.
 
The Flames' five goals are split between five players, three of which are freshmen in Messina, Kavanaugh and Megan Bowman, as Douglas and Meaghan Smith round out the group.
 
Goalkeeping has primarily been controlled by Tara Khayam as she owns 32 saves in 498 minutes. Haley Leanna came in to make her first collegiate appearance and play the final 45 against the Redbirds, and made three saves with one goal allowed.
 
WEEKEND OPPONENTS
Western Michigan is coming off three-straight wins after having its lone loss of the season come at Michigan, 3-0. Three of its four wins have been against Horizon League members Detroit Mercy, 3-0, Wright State, 2-0, and Oakland, 1-0, with the additional coming over Purdue Fort Wayne, 2-1.
 
The Broncos have attempted 74 shots with more than half coming from Alyssa Burke (16), Grace Labadie (15) and Bailey Kohorn (10), as the trio has contributed 18 of the team's 36 SOG. Kohorn has a team-high three goals, with Burke and Hannah Kahn adding two apiece. Hannah Sargent has spent all 450 minutes in goal, during which time she made 15 saves and allowed just three goals for a 0.60 goals-against average.
 
In the all-time series, WMU is ahead 2-0-0 as the two teams have not met since 2015 when the Broncos collected a 3-0 win.
 
Eastern Michigan has taken three of its last four games, defeating Detroit Mercy, 2-1, Creighton, 2-1, and Oakland, 1-0. Its most recent loss came three matches ago against Dayton, 3-1, while it was shut out to open the season by Purdue, 3-0, and Illinois State, 1-0.
 
The Eagles have racked up 95 shots led by the effort of Sabrina McNeill (19), Kristin Nason (14), Madeline Olson (13) and Chloe Chatzis (10), who have combined for 23 of the team's 34 SOG. Each own at least one goal with McNeill tabbing two in addition to two assists. Kaylin Williams has played all but 45 minutes in goal and has made 27 saves to hold a 1.64 GAA.
 
UIC has met with EMU on three occasions as the Eagles hold the upper hand with a 3-0-0 record. The two met last season at Flames Field with EMU narrowly taking the 2-1 victory.