UIC will step out of conference play for the final time when the Flames travel a very short distance north to take on intracity rival Loyola.  Both teams are receiving votes in this week's College Soccer News national poll.  The Flames are 6-2 in non-conference matches.  Included in that record is a win over DePaul and a loss to Northwestern.  Loyola has already defeated both of those squads, making Tuesday night's match a winner-take-all battle for the unofficial city title.

"It seems like every time we play out of conference, we face a big rival," Sean Phillips said.  "Our matches with Loyola are always intense ones.  As is the case with all the local programs, many of our guys played in high school or on club teams with some of Loyola's players.  I anticipate a challenging match at their place.  Whichever team works hardest for 90 minutes with a blue collar mentality will be the one that leaves with three points."

Last Time Out

• The Flames needed late drama to defeat Wright State, 3-2 in overtime, Saturday night.
• Andres Moreno scored at 89:37 to tie the match.  Bukola Abdulwahab netted the game-winner in the extra session.
• Bar Hazut scored the match's first goal and assisted on the OT clincher.
• The Flames improved to 4-1 in overtime matches.

Flames to Watch

• Jesus Perez has a Horizon League-high and ranks third nationally with eight total assists on the season.
• Bar Hazut has scored nine goals to lead the Horizon League and rank 10th nationally
• Bukola Abdulwahab has scored in back-to-back matches, including the game-winner in overtime Saturday against Wright State.

Scouting the Ramblers

• Loyola won its third straight game Saturday, 2-0 over Valparaiso.
• Ethan Stoneman and Aidan Megally scored goals.  Stoneman became the fourth Rambler with multiple goals on the season, while Megally leads the squad with seven.
• Marcel Kampman has played every minute in goal to a .87 goals-against average and a .697 save percentage.
• The Ramblers lost their first two matches this season on a west coast trip, but have gone 7-1-1 since.  Wins against common foes Northern Illinois, DePaul, Northwestern, and Valpo are on their sheet.

A Top-10 Offense

• UIC's relentless attack has placed the team in the top 10 in several categories in the latest NCAA rankings.
• The Flames lead the nation in shots per game (19.1) and are third in shots on goal per game (8.3).
• UIC has scored 31 total goals, good for fifth in the country, with 2.6 per game also ranking fifth.
• The team is fourth in total assists, with 32, which works out to 2.7 per game and a fourth place showing.
• With 94 points, UIC has yet another fourth place ranking.  The Flames are fifth with 7.8 points per game.

Ramble On

• Though UIC has a 17-14-3 edge in the all-time series, Loyola is 4-1-1 in the last six meetings and 6-2-1 since 2010.
• The Flames won last year's encounter, 2-1, thanks to dramatic saves of point-blank shots in the final minutes.
• The last matchup at Loyola was a 1-1 draw.  UIC's last win at Loyola Soccer Park came in 2009.
• UIC has the longest winning streak in the series, an eight-match run from 1997 to 2002.