After three straight matches against non-conference rivals, UIC will return to Horizon League play Saturday afternoon at Northern Kentucky.  It begins the final stretch of the season in which six of the remaining seven matches are league battles, with much to be decided ahead of the conference tournament.

"Every conference match is a battle, and it takes an extra sharp focus to earn a result, especially when you're playing on the road at a place like Northern Kentucky," Sean Phillips said.  "We need to do everything necessary to come out with the blue collar effort that it will take to get three points.  We have had some tight battles against NKU at their place and I anticipate that Saturday will be no different."

Three of UIC's last four matches have been on the road, and all three have gone to overtime.  The last match between the teams in Highland Heights went to double overtime in a 0-0 draw.

The Flames will be looking to improve on their unblemished Horizon League record (2-0), as well as their best start since 2008 (8-2) in a tie with last season's record after 10 matches.

Last Time Out

• The Flames came from behind to defeat Northern Illinois 2-1 on Tuesday.
• Roberto Alonzo scored the equalizer, and Jesus Perez had the game-winning goal.
• Christian Crespo and Andres Moreno each had an assist.
• Sokratis Vasilas made five saves.

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 (18.8) and are second in shots on goal per game (8.4).
• UIC has scored 26 total goals, good for fourth in the country, with 2.6 per game ranking seventh.
• The team is also fourth in total assists, with 28, which works out to 2.8 per game and a sixth place showing.
• With 80 points, UIC has yet another fourth place ranking. The Flames are sixth with 8 points per game.

Flames to Watch

• Jesus Perez has a Horizon League high and ranks eighth nationally with six total assists.
• Bar Hazut is first in the conference with seven goals.  He is 16^th in the country.
• Roberto Alonzo's goal Tuesday was his fourth of the season, good for fourth place in the Horizon League.

Scouting Northern Kentucky

• Northern Kentucky halted a three-match losing skid by defeating preseason Horizon League favorite Wright State, 2-1 last Saturday.
• A second-minute Raider goal was wiped out by scores from Stian Jorgensen and Alex Grieve.
• Alex Willis is the lone Norse with more than one goal (2). Connor Probert has a team high five points.
• Baj Maan has played seven of the team's eight games in goal. He has a 1.46 goals-against average and a .761 save percentage.

Norse Nuggets

• UIC has never lost to Northern Kentucky. The Flames have a 3-0-1 record against the Norse with all four meetings coming since NKU joined the Horizon League in 2015.
• NKU has never scored on the Flames.
• UIC has a combined 7-0 goal advantage in two home matches, but the contests in Highland Heights have been much closer. UIC has a 1-0 win and a 0-0 draw in two all-time matches at NKU.