UIC's season came to an end in the Horizon League semifinals Thursday evening.  After 110 minutes of scoreless soccer, Milwaukee won the penalty kick shootout 3-0 to move on to the championship match.

The Flames had the significant majority of possession and outshot the visitors 26-7.  In fact, UIC had more shots on goal (eight) than Milwaukee had altogether.

"It's said that soccer can be a cruel, cruel game.  Tonight is an example of that," Sean Phillips said.  "In very difficult field conditions, our guys may have turned in one of our best performances in possession, in defending, in defending restarts, in transition, attacking restarts, and creating chances.  But unfortunately we weren't able to punch one over the line. 

"A good amount of the credit for that goes to Milwaukee's goalkeeper.  We served in a number of good chances on set pieces and he was up to the challenge.  He made two outstanding saves in the second half that kept them in the game.  And obviously saving two penalties gave them the opportunity to advance.  Congratulations to them on making the plays to advance tonight."

UIC's season ends with a record of 12-5-1.  The team had been stellar in overtime all season, posting a 6-1 record in matches beyond 90 minutes.  That set a program record for overtime wins.  On this night, they could not find the golden goal on any of their three shots in the extra sessions.

It was the second straight year that the semifinal went to a shootout.  Last season, the Flames prevailed 4-0 after a 1-1 draw with IUPUI.  That set the stage for their third straight tournament title.

This year, despite winning the regular season championship, the shootout result left UIC out of the tournament that they won the right to host.

"We needed to be a little bit sharper in the final third to get the goal or two that our play deserved," Phillips continued.  "It's disappointing to end the season, and disappointing to see the UIC playing careers of Lyes [Ghezali], Chino [Jesus Perez], and Christian [Sanchez] come to a close.  They won either a regular season or tournament championship every year they were here.  Just as importantly, they represented us well on the field, all three are on course to graduate, and they have done what we ask of every player that joins our program: leave your mark that makes the program better than when you got here."

Moments That Mattered

• Milwaukee had the first moments of possession, but UIC quickly found their footing and earned a very advantageous free kick from the semicircle in the sixth minute.  Jesus Perez went directly for the goal, but his try hit the wall.
• Jacob Graiber made the most important defensive plays of the first half, both in the first 25 minutes.  When Joshua Kidder had a clean run toward Sokratis Vasilas' goal, Graiber got back fast enough to not only get a foot on the ball, but to deflect it off Kidder for a goal kick.  Later, Kidder set up shop on the flank, and Graiber intercepted his cross into the box.
• Roberto Alonzo put a curling shot on goal in the 21^st minute, and it went just wide of the left post.  The Flames had another unchallenged attempt after Bar Hazut was fouled 30 yards from the goal.  Pau Mateo took the free kick and targeted it toward the net, where Freddy Lorenzen made the save.
• The Flames gave the home crowd a couple of chances to anticipate late in the half.  Alonzo whipped in a cross that had redirection written all over it until Lorenzen stabbed it.  In the last minute, Hazut worked for a shot from the top of the box, which went just high.
• Jesus Perez took a shot early in the second half that took a deflection, but still continued tantalizingly toward the frame until ultimately trickling wide.  A header went on target off the ensuing corner kick, which was saved.
• Pau Mateo tried to get things going from beyond midfield in the 71^st minute.  He sent a long ball through to Bukola Abdulwahab, who timed his run to get past the defense.  As he bore down on the net, Lorenzen came well off his line just in time to grab the ball.  Abdulwahab had another opportunity to face the keeper 1-on-1 six minutes later.  Again, the save was made.
• Milwaukee had some attacking moments in the last 10 minutes of regulation.  They had two straight shots that UIC's back line prevented from getting to Vasilas.  The keeper did make a play in short order, diving to corral a cross and end the Panthers' final threat.
• Mateo played Nkusuwila Zulu from deep, resulting in a quality chance and a quality save.  Zulu had the last shot of regulation, which was blocked as the seconds counted down to overtime.
• Eduardo Garcia made the biggest defensive play of extra time when he tackled Paolo Gratton deep in the box.  Later, he had a back-heel clearance in the 108^th minute.  Zulu had the Flames' best offensive opportunity when Hazut played him into the box for an open shot, which he sent wide.
• In the shootout, the first three Panthers up all scored.  Pau Mateo and Eduardo Garcia both had their shots saved by Lorenzen.  With the season on the line, Roberto Alonzo beat Lorenzen to the left, but hit the post.

Facts and Figures

• The Starting XI remained virtually intact from the regular season finale against Milwaukee, with Perez returning in place of Andres Moreno.
• Zulu had a game-high five shots.  Alonzo, with two, was the only player with more than one shot on goal.
• Ten of the 12 field players who saw action had at least one shot.
• Hazut played 87 minutes off the bench.  One of his three shots went on target.
• Moreno was the only other sub to see action.  Eight of the 11 starters played all 110 minutes.
• Vasilas made one save.  It was his third shutout of the season.
• UIC was blanked for only the second time.
• The draw ended a 21-match winning streak at Flames Field.
• The Flames dominated attempts from the corner, with a 12-1 advantage in corner kicks.  It was a season high for UIC.