UIC will play for the program's first-ever Horizon League championship Saturday night.

The second-seeded Flames are on a six-match winning streak after their semifinal win over Northern Kentucky.  That was the team's first tournament win in two tries, and it set up a clash with #1 Milwaukee for the title.

The title tilt will match two elite defenses.  Both squads are in the national top-20 in goals-against average, and each has a top-10 save percentage.  Behind Goalkeeper of the Year Lena Kurz, the Flames have allowed just one goal over their last six matches.  Milwaukee had a seven-match shutout streak halted in the semifinals.

UIC's offense has come into its own in the last month.  The Flames closed the regular season by scoring 12 goals in their last four matches.  They trail only Milwaukee in scoring within conference play.  Emily Valentine leads the Flames with 13 points.  With her assist on Thursday, she moved into first place on the program's all-time assist table.

When the teams met during the regular season, UIC took the most shots and the most shots on goal of any Horizon League opponent during Milwaukee's undefeated conference slate.  In the semifinal, the Flames set season highs in shots and shots on goal.

The conference's co-Coaches of the Year will match up.  Tom Anagnost has led the Flames to the nation's fifth-best turnaround from last season.  Troy Fabiano's group captured its fifth straight regular season title after going 8-0-1 in conference play.

First kick will be at 6:00 Saturday evening.  The match can be seen on ESPN+.

Last Time Out

• The Flames won their program-record sixth straight game, 1-0 in double overtime against Northern Kentucky in the semifinals.
• Cassidy Privett tapped in the golden goal following action on a corner kick.  Tamae Douglas and Emily Valentine assisted.
• UIC dominated chances, with a season high 26 shots (12 on goal) to NKU's nine shots, with three on target.
• Lena Kurz made three saves, all in a 10-minute span to start the second half.  It was her 10th shutout.

Flames to Watch

• Autumn Rasmussen had several early chances against NKU, and finished with a match-high three shots on goal.
• Emma Main served in a free kick late in regulation that was saved after bending to the near post.
• Eight players played the full 104 minutes Thursday.  Only three substitutes got into the match, the fewest since the first match of the season.

Scouting Milwaukee

• Milwaukee beat Oakland, 2-1, in their semifinal.  The Golden Grizzlies snapped a 1,070 minute scoreless streak for Milwaukee's defense.
• McKaela Schmelzer is the Horizon League Defensive Player of the Year, and one of five Panthers on the All-League first team.
• Haley Johnson, Gaby Schwartz, and Mackenzie Schill are the team's top point scorers.  Elaina LaMacchia has allowed just 0.3 goals per match.

Doing It With Defense

• UIC has the second stingiest defense in the Horizon League.  The Flames allowed 10 goals during the regular season, just behind first place Milwaukee's eight.
• The Flames are a top-10 defense in the nation in save percentage and shutouts.
• All but one of UIC's results this year have come via one of their 12 shutouts.