Freshman Roberto Alonzo scored the golden goal at 107:58 of double overtime to give UIC a 3-2 win over Dayton in the season opener.

The Flyers tied the game with just 2:37 to play in regulation when a yellow card resulted in a penalty kick.  Josiah Ash had put UIC on top with a penalty kick of his own, after Alwin Seitz opened the scoring in the 18^th minute.

The physical game saw 29 fouls and three penalty kicks, but just two bookings.  UIC had the lion's share of possession and chances and in fact did not allow a goal during the run of play.

"I must say that was one of the most unique college soccer games I've been involved with as a player or coach," Sean Phillips said.  "Three PKs called, two converted, a number of chances created by us and a lot of new pieces to the puzzle.  We had guys getting injured, guys stepped up, several had to play out of position.  The bottom line is we found a way to win tonight.  That is a very good sign for a group that is early on in the process of finding itself."

UIC had 13 more shots than Dayton, and could have made it 3-1 when Ash had his second try from the spot saved.  "We need to improve individually and collectively," Phillips added.  "We need to be able to put teams away and make it 2-0, or 3-0, or 3-1 when those opportunities are presented."

The match was the opening contest of the Wolstein Classic at Ohio State.  UIC will face the Buckeyes on Sunday.

Sokratis Vasilas made three saves and did not allow a goal from the run of play.  Dayton's first tally came on a restart.

"From a defensive standpoint we were pretty good," Phillips observed.  "The free kick was well taken and Dayton deserves credit for converting that opportunity.  But we have to do a better job of not giving the opponents those kinds of chances.

"Our guys deserve a bundle of credit for finding a way to win."

Moments That Mattered

• The Flames started with the first moments of possession, taking the game's first shot just a minute in and earning the first corner kick by minute four.  Josiah Ash got a head on that corner, pushing his effort wide.  Before a quarter hour was up, UIC had another corner kick and another attempt, sent high by Bukola Abdulwahab.
• "We do need to be a bit more mature in the final third to be able to put a team away," Phillips observed.  "We need to be sharper.  We have to appreciate how important chances are when you get them; we have to be more efficient.  We have to do a better job of putting them away."
• The match's first goal sprung from UIC's continuous time in the final third.  Eduardo Garcia sent a low cross to Alwin Seitz who slotted it to the back right.  UIC refused to relent after scoring.  Seitz was in position to take another shot just seconds after kickoff, but Dayton made the play to block it.  Three minutes later, Pau Mateo hit the post with a shot, and then Jose Perez Flores sent a try wide.
• Dayton capitalized on their first true opportunity of the match.  UIC fouled 25 yards from the goal, and Kingsford Adjei booted it over the wall and past Sokratis Vasilas.
• UIC regrouped and built up some momentum to end the first half.  Andres Moreno unleashed a shot which was blocked, and with just minutes remaining Eduardo Garcia tested the keeper, only for Federico Barrios to make the save.  Roberto Alonzo added a shot in the final seconds, with Dayton again making a block.
• The teams traded punches at the beginning of the second half.  The Flames earned a corner kick, but could not generate a try.  Just later, Vasilas was called upon to make a save.  Immediately after he sent the ball up the pitch, Isaac Mensah was whistled for a yellow card inside the 18.  Josiah Ash stepped to the spot and booted home the tiebreaking goal.
• Ash was unable to repeat the feat when the Flames were awarded another penalty just four minutes later.  Barrios saved this try, and the Flyers blocked subsequent shots by Perez Flores and Ash as the Flames continued to create chances across the hour mark.
• Dayton's last push resulted in a header going on net, which Vasilas was in position to save, and a corner kick that connected but was shot wide.  They won possession back quickly, earned another corner kick, and drew a yellow card on Jacob Graiber during the action.  Rok Taneski converted the penalty kick with just two and a half minutes remaining in regulation.
• Neither team mustered much of an attack during the first overtime, and each side settled for only one shot.  A Dayton shot sent high afforded Vasilas a goal kick in the second extra session.  After the ball was played ahead, Abdulwahab sent a low cross in the direction of Ash, who deflected it back to the right where Roberto Alonzo collected it and booted it home for the game-winner.

Facts and Figures

• Four players started as their first appearance as a Flame: Aaron Nguyen, Bukola Abdulwahab, Jose Perez Flores, and Elias McCloud.
• Andres Moreno and Roberto Alonzo checked in as subs, and Bar Hazut came on at halftime, to mark their collegiate debuts.  Alonzo's game-winner came on his third shot, and second on goal.  Michael Silvar entered for the first time in the overtime session.
• Ash's PK make was the second of his career in as many tries.  He also converted one against IUPUI last year.
• The Flames outshot Dayton 23-10.  Much of that margin was built in the first half.  UIC had a 13-2 advantage after 45 minutes.
• Each team took five corner kicks.
• Dayton was called offside seven times.
• Vasilas' three saves all came in the second half.
• Ash had game highs with five shots and three on goal.  Seitz took four shots.
• It was the Flames' second overtime contest in four matches dating to last year's Horizon League semifinal against IUPUI.
• UIC allowed its most goals in a season opener since 2014, when they defeated Cal State Fullerton 3-2 in overtime.
• It was the team's second straight win on Opening Day.

Up Next

• The Flames will wrap up play in the Wolstein Classic on Sunday.
• UIC will face the host Ohio State at 2 pm.