Horizon League-leading Milwaukee defeated UIC on Sunday by a 3-0 final at Flames Field.

A promising start to the match saw UIC get off several quality shots, but yielded no goals.  Milwaukee scored on a set piece in the 33^rd minute, and added two more goals in the second half.

"Obviously, we're disappointed," Tom Anagnost said.  "Credit to Milwaukee.  They are a very well coached team, they're organized, they have talent all over the field and they're tough to play. 

"We started the game great and we had chances to score, but we didn't, and that decided the game.  We didn't start the second half the same way we started the first, and that lull hurt us.  I want to give Milwaukee credit because they scored two fantastic goals, and that's why they won.  But if you want to look at some positives, who had the most shots?  We did.  Who had the most shots on goal?  We did.  Who had more corner kicks?  We did.  We have to make the most of those and do a better job.  But Milwaukee is a really good team and I congratulate them."

The Flames had been 4-1-1 at home, and had outscored their opponents 7-1 leading in to the match.

Moments That Mattered

• The Flames controlled possession for large stretches of the first 20 minutes.  After an early Panther shot, UIC took nine straight shots with Sydney Gratz accounting for four of them.  Two of Gratz' attempts went on goal.  Jackie Santibanez added some nice moves in traffic and had a shot on goal of her own.
• Milwaukee's first goal came on a corner kick.  Gaby Schwartz served it in from the right corner.  Three Panthers were clustered at the far post, and it was Rachel Philpotts who emerged from the group with the jump that enabled her to head the ball past Lena Kurz.
• Kurz played a larger role in the Flames' defensive efforts early in the second half.  She aggressively charged to the farthest reaches of the box to play balls, often sliding to surround them to prevent Milwaukee from connecting passes.
• Gaby Schwartz dialed long distance to give the Panthers what proved to be an insurmountable lead.  After a throw-in, Milwaukee played the ball across the field where Schwartz took it well beyond the left corner of the box.  She wound up and arced a shot on goal which Kurz appeared to lose in the sun.  It went over Kurz' head and inside the back post.
• Ten minutes later, the Panthers made it 3-0.  Moving the ball up the field in transition, Natalie Auble played Chandler McDaniel to the middle of the pitch.  McDaniel dribbled inside the top of the box, stopped and shot right.  Annika Laihanen, who replaced Kurz shortly after Milwaukee's second goal, was unable to change direction and watched it go past her to the left.
• Emily Valentine sent a low shot on frame in the 71^st minute.  It was a good attempt but Elaina LaMacchia was up to the challenge.  Later, Aidan Senior put a header on goal from close range.  Following that, Emily Kavanaugh offered up the Flames' last best chance to score when her shot from medium distance had the pace to go in the net, but for LaMacchia standing tall.

Facts and Figures

• Keri Birkenhead returned to the starting lineup. 
• Leah Senese made her Flames debut as an 88^th minute sub.
• The Flames ended with advantages in shots, 17-12, and shots on goal, 10-7.  It was UIC's first loss of the season when outshooting their opponent.
• Sydney Gratz and Emma Main led the team with four shot each.  The pair each put two shots on goal.
• Ten different Flames had at least one shot.  Eight had an attempt on target.
• The match was the first in which both keepers played.
• The three-goal margin of defeat was UIC's largest of the year.  All four of their previous losses were by one goal each.
• Milwaukee became the first team to score three goals against the Flames.  Only two teams had been able to post two goals.
• It ended a two match winning streak at Flames Field.

Up Next

• The Flames will embark on a three game road trip.
• First up in the trip is a match at Detroit Mercy.
• The Flames and Titans will square off Saturday at 2 pm.