Don't call it rebuilding.

Sure, the 2019 UIC Flames may have lost significant pieces of their championship squad from a year ago.  But the coaching staff believes that the culture of the program has progressed to the point that replacing such productivity is not a multi-year proposition.

"You can never replace players like for like, that are of that quality on and off the field," head coach Sean Phillips said before he and the team departed for Columbus, the site of the first two games of the season.  "I believe we've brought in a number of very talented players who have their own ways of scoring goals.  Even as we've been on this run and with the success that we've had, every year we have had freshmen or players who were new to the program or returning players who had been working in the wings step in and become important pieces of those teams."

It would be easy for an observer to conclude that a regression might happen this year.  After all, Horizon League Offensive Player of the Year, and the fourth all-time goal scorer at UIC, Max Todd; goalkeeper Sawyer Jackman, whose goals-against average and shutout total are top-five in program history; multiple All-Region selection Oscar Gonzalez, the dynamic Markell Saddler, and others have all departed.
 

But when your returning group is headlined by Hermann Trophy Watch List selection Jesus Perez – last year's Horizon League Player of the Year – and a back line that includes Horizon League Tournament MVP Jacob Graiber, there is every reason to expect big things in 2019.  After all, UIC did receive the majority of first-place votes in the Horizon League preseason poll.

With Perez and Josiah Ash, who made the conference's All-Freshman and All-Tournament Teams, setting the pace for UIC's attack, Phillips believes it is a question of when, not if, goal scoring picks up.

"Even when you have a number of returning players, it can take some time to get the points going," he noted.  "So one of our challenges individually as players, as a team, and as a staff is to help the process along of taking these talented attacking pieces, many of whom are new or didn't have as big a role in the past, and getting them on the same page."

Perez led the nation in assists last season from a midfield spot.  He will return to that role this season, capable of scoring goals on his own to ignite the offense.  Alwin Seitz appeared in 15 matches as a midfielder last year and is poised to play more minutes this fall.
 

"In the midfield we return Chino [Perez], whose accomplishments speak for themselves.  Alwin was working in the wings last year and will get his opportunity.  We also return midyear transfer Elias McCloud, who made a positive mark in the spring.  Aaron Nguyen had a solid youth career with the Fire Academy and put his mark on the team in the spring.  Jose Perez Flores was a Junior College All-American from Yavapai."

Ash is the Flames' leading returning goal scorer, and the team's lone returning forward.  Bar Hazut and Bukola Abdulwahab, who both transferred from the junior college ranks and showed sparks of offensive creativity in the preseason, will vie for a starting spot opposite him.
 
"All four of the guys we've looked at in the forward roles have talent.  Josiah proved that he belonged as a freshman.  Bar and Buki are new to the Division I level but proven goal scorers in the past, and Robbie Alonzo was an accomplished player at the youth level with the Fire Academy.  The expectation for those guys is they're going to make a mark.  It's up to them to make that mark and prove to us who belongs on the field."

Phillips continued, "With the way we try to play, a lot of chemistry is involved.  We don't dictate movements.  We believe the game should be played by the players; we give them ideas and demand that they find the solution.  That presents a challenge this year with a lot of new pieces in the attacking fold.  It may take some time, it's going to take some trial and error but I think once that chemistry is created we will be a talented attacking team."
 

If defense wins championships, Phillips is excited about his team's experience.  "At this point the back four we ended the year with – Cristian [Sanchez], Eddie [Garcia], Graiber, and Pau [Mateo] – are all back.  The really exciting part is the depth that we have in Lyes [Ghezali] and Manny [Cerritos].  They have been impactful players that have helped us win championships.  If any of those six guys are called upon, I think we're in good shape.  I'm counting on that group to bring that experience not just on the field but in the locker room."

Behind the back four, Sokratis Vasilas will take over goalkeeping duties.  "With Sawyer leaving, we never really had a question as to whether we had to find a new #1.  We knew we had him in Sokratis," Phillips stated.  "This year will be his time to shine.  In the spring and in this year's three exhibitions, he showed what he is capable of.  He showed that he is able to manage the group in front of him, make the big save, and play out of the back."

Three newcomers – Toney Anderson, Peter Wagner, and Andres Vasquez – will challenge for the #2 spot behind Vasilas.  Anderson played two years at Wisconsin-Whitewater, while Wagner had a decorated club career.
 

"Those three goalkeepers are all talented in their own right.  The play from this group was very competitive during the preseason.  Our future is bright in goal," Phillips commented.

UIC will open the season at Ohio State's Wolstein Classic.  The Flames' season opener is against Dayton Friday afternoon.

UIC's history with Dayton includes an NCAA first round matchup in 2008.  The teams played to a scoreless draw before UIC advanced on penalty kicks, 3-1, en route to the Sweet 16.  The overall series stands at 1-1-1.  Dayton won the previous neutral site matchup back in 1991 at Bowling Green.

The Flames enter the season after a 1-1-1 exhibition slate.  Creighton became the first team to score a goal against UIC on Saturday in their 1-0 win.  The Blue Jays received votes in all three major national preseason polls, while Michigan State, with whom the Flames drew 0-0, is a consensus top-10 pick.

Dayton went 9-6-4 last season and advanced to the A-10 semifinals.  They were picked fourth in the A-10 preseason poll, with goalkeeper Federico Barrios earning preseason All-Conference honors.  Dayton defeated IUPUI, 2-0, and drew with Bowling Green, 0-0, in preseason play.  The Flyers won five straight matches, including their A-10 quarterfinal, at the end of last season. Junior Jonas Fjeldberg led the team in goals (4) and points (10) last year, despite playing in only 12 games.

After the Flames and Flyers face off, Ohio State will play CSUN Friday evening.  Games between UIC and Ohio State, and Dayton and CSUN, are slated for Sunday.
 

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