The all-important stretch run of the 2019 season begins Saturday.  With just four matches remaining in the regular season, all of which are against Horizon League foes, UIC will be in a battle for positioning in the league standings and seeding in the conference tournament.

The Flames (9-4, 3-1 HL) welcome first place Oakland (6-5-2, 4-0-1 HL) to Flames Field for a 1 pm matinee.  Alone in second place, UIC holds its destiny in its own hands.  They also hold an active 19-game home winning streak, the longest in the nation and tied for the program record.

"It's not surprising at all that Oakland is at the top of the Horizon League table," Sean Phillips said.  "Ever since they joined the league in 2013, they have given us one of our toughest games on the league schedule every season.  Coach Pogue has assembled a talented group of quality soccer players that this year has that something extra.  Even though their record may have been a little choppy the last couple of seasons, the talent was evident on their team.  Now that they have some more experience, they are getting the results.

"We will need to be sharp in all facets of the game to get the win.  I think there will be two factors that decide who wins: which side shows more discipline, and which side makes the last play.  I anticipate a very tough game that will be critical to both teams in their goals for the rest of the season."

Last Time Out

• The Flames fell to crosstown rival Loyola, 3-1, on Tuesday.
• Bukola Abdulwahab scored the team's lone goal.
• In a defensive struggle, the teams combined for just 13 shots and one save.  UIC had a season low two shots on goal.

Flames to Watch

• Jesus Perez is fourth in the nation with eight assists, just one behind the tri-leaders at nine.
• Bar Hazut is 11^th nationally, having scored nine goals.
• Bukola Abdulwahab has a goal in each of the last three games.

Scouting Oakland

• Oakland lost their most recent match, 3-0 at Dayton, but has won their last two Horizon League outings.
• Dylan Borczak leads the team with eight assists and has a co-team high four goals.
• Sullivan Lauderdale has a 1.16 goals-against average and a .714 save percentage.
• The Golden Grizzlies are at the top of the Horizon League table in both goals scored (2.4) and goals allowed (0.6) in conference games.

Offensively Minded

• UIC enters play fourth in the NCAA in both total goals and total points.
• The team is seventh in goals per game and points per game.
• The Flames are third nationally in shots per game.  Only four teams are putting more shots on goal per game than UIC.

Golden Grizzly Grudge Matches

• The Flames have a slim 4-3-2 advantage in the all-time series.
• UIC won last year's encounter, 4-1.  They are 4-1-1 against Oakland since the Golden Grizzlies became members of the Horizon League.
• The teams have met just twice in Chicago since 2013.  UIC won both of those matches by a 1-0 final.