An exciting finish saw three goals in the last 14 minutes and a hat trick finished by Alex Greive as Northern Kentucky pulled out a 3-2 win over UIC Saturday afternoon.

Bar Hazut and Bukola Abdulwahab scored for the Flames.  Abdulwahab's tally came just 40 seconds after the Norse took the lead for the first time and invigorated his team for a stretch run.  Greive scored his third goal late and though the Flames had some dangerous chances in the last 10 minutes, they could not summon enough late magic.

"We played one of our best first halves of the season but we didn't finish all our chances," Sean Phillips said.  "We had opportunities to put the game out of reach and a great amount of credit goes to their keeper for keeping them in it."

Northern Kentucky scored very shortly after halftime to even the score at 1.  "They made some adjustments at halftime and punched us in the mouth," Phillips observed.  "Our guys continued to fight and scratch and claw.  Sok[ratis Vasilas] made a valiant save of a PK but the rebound went right to the shooter.  We did well to respond, but we took a mental break after winning the ball on a set piece and they took advantage.  Of course Greive made a big impact on the game.

"We've got to take those opportunities to put teams away.  We also have to be better on set pieces.  Fortunately we have a full week of recovery to prepare for Wright State."

Moments That Mattered

• Bar Hazut had two excellent chances to give the Flames an early lead.  His first shot came from an angle outside the six and seemed destined for the far post until Baj Maan dove and got a fingertip on the low shot.  Less than four minutes later, Hazut was in a nearly identical spot thanks to spot-on passing, but his point-blank shot went right into Maan's midsection.
• In minute 26, Christian Crespo was taken down as he tried to make a move in the box.  Bar Hazut stepped to the spot, and sent a rocket past Maan to make it 1-0.
• Sokratis Vasilas was tested for the first time in the 34^th minute.  NKU's free kick from 33 yards was sent on goal.  Vasilas jumped to his left and made a sure-handed save.  In the ensuing action, NKU took two corner kicks.  The Flames were active on defense and did not allow a shot.
• In the late stages of the first half, it was Bukie Abdulwahab who had two chances to tack on a second goal.  Hazut sent a cross in his direction but just behind him as he streaked into the six.  Jesus Perez later led him right down the chute where he unleashed a wide open shot that sailed left of the post.
• Northern Kentucky equalized just two minutes in to the second half.  A corner kick was defended by the Flames but not completely cleared.  The Norse sent a pass to the back post where Alex Greive beat Vasilas from a sharp angle.
• Pressure intensified right around the hour mark.  Two corner kicks were well-earned from connected passes, individual moves, and legitimate shots taken inside the area.  Just later, Hazut got free for a dangerous shot.  Perez made everyone in the stadium hold their breath when he worked between two defenders and sent a low shot past Maan, whose bacon was saved when it hit the right post.
• The Norse took their first lead in the 78^th minute.  They made the most of a rare advance into the final third and drew a foul just inside the box.  Grieve took the penalty, which Vasilas saved. The ball stayed in play and Grieve, who followed his shot all the way, tapped it in.
• NKU's lead was very short lived.  Forty seconds later, the Flames were back on the attack.  Perez drew two defenders when he received a pass 12 yards from the goal.  After playing between them to create space, he passed to Abdulwahab near the goal line.  The Nigerian placed a shot perfectly between the keeper and the near post.
• The hosts regrouped and had a spell of possession, ultimately earning a corner kick after Vasilas saved a shot to his left.  UIC played the corner, but a Norse tracked it down and sent a turnaround pass across the goal.  Greive was on the receiving end and one-timed it into the net.

Facts and Figures

• A brand new First XI started the match.  Roberto Alonzo and Christian Crespo were in the starting lineup together for the first time.
• NKU's first goal of the match was their first ever against UIC.  It took four and a half matches and 433:40 for them to get that maiden goal.
• Grieve's hat trick was the first against UIC since last September 29, when Cleveland State's Vlad Jandric scored thrice.  That game was also the Flames' first conference loss of the season.
• Hazut's goal was his league-leading eighth.  Abdulwahab scored for the second time.
• UIC had a 17-11 edge in shots, but each side put seven on goal.
• The Flames had twice as many (10-5) corner kicks as the Norse.
• Vasilas made four saves.  He and the team allowed a season high-tying three goals.
• Hazut led the squad with five shots and three on goal.

Up Next

• UIC will host Wright State in an extremely crucial Horizon League match Saturday night.
• The top two teams in the preseason poll each lost to Northern Kentucky.
• The Raiders were the last team to beat UIC at Flames Field before the Flames started their active 18-game winning streak there.
• It will be Alumni and Friends Night, with a pregame reception at 6 and first kick at 7.