Fifteen new faces are part of the 2019 UIC soccer team that will make its first appearance in an exhibition match against Southern Illinois Tuesday evening.  First-year head coach Tom Anagnost announced the incoming class today.

"I think we did a decent job of getting good players and people here in such a short amount of time," Anagnost said.  "We for sure brought in at least five new starters and several others that will play.  We have really enjoyed working with them thus far and are excited about their growth and future."

Ten freshmen, four upperclassman transfers, and one graduate student make up the largest group of newcomers since the program's inception five years ago.  The new Flames come from the Chicago area and beyond, with members hailing from Virginia, Minnesota, Ohio, Florida, Missouri, and New York; as well as Canada, New Zealand, Germany, Finland, and Norway.

The newcomers have been on campus and training for the past week with the nine returning members from the 2018 team, including Horizon League All-Freshman and Second Team All-League member Emily Kavanaugh.  She was the team's leader in goals, assists, and points last fall.  Tamae Douglas, whose three goals included two game-winners, headlines a senior class that also includes Emily Valentine, a starter on the back line in every match last year.

The Flames will make their debut against a Saluki program that is debuting in 2019.  The first-year squad has a 2-1 exhibition win over Tennessee Tech under its belt already.  Kickoff is at 6:00 Tuesday night at Flames Field.  Admission is free.

Meet the New Flames

	Isabelle Fleming - Minneapolis, Minnesota Biography coming soon
	Skylar Forrest – Belle River, Ontario, Canada St. Anne High School Helped lead St. Anne to conference and regional championships as a freshman, and an appearance in the province semifinals...were conference finalists as a senior...won conference and made a national appearance in 2017 with the Michigan Hawks...was also a distance track and cross-country runner in high school...named cross country MVP and was a multiple provincial qualifier...was a regional cross country silver medalist...enjoys photography and baking...daughter of David and Jennifer Forrest...intends on majoring in rehabilitation sciences.
	Sydney Gratz – Geneva, Illinois Geneva High School Led Geneva to regional championships in 2016 and 2017, and a conference title in 2017...team went 21-2-1 in '17 en route to the regional championship...was a two-time all-conference academic selection, and made the all-conference team twice...earned all-sectional and all-area honors twice each...led the team in assists as a junior...enjoys cooking and crafting...donates volunteer hours at Orthokids...daughter of Lisa and Harvey Gratz...intends on majoring in mechanical engineering.
	Grace Haines – Springboro, Ohio Archbishop Alter Led Alter to three conference championships, two district championships, and the 2016 regional and state championships...the state championship team finished with a record of 18-2-2, and the Knights would win 13 and 16 games in her final two seasons...was team leader in assists as a junior, with seven...made first team all-conference that season, and won second team all-conference honors in her other three seasons...was team captain as a senior, and selected for the Dayton All-Star Game...was third team Dayton South as a sophomore, and second team as a junior...father, Ron, played soccer at Bowling Green...also a member of her high school's track and dance teams...volunteered at an orphanage in Guatemala...daughter of Ron and Michelle Haines...intends on majoring in early childhood education.
	Lena Kurz – Ludwigschafen, Germany Max-Planck Gymnasium / Technische Universitat Played for the German club teams 1.FFC Ludwigshafen, 1.FFC Niederkirchen, and TSV Neckarau...named to the State All-Star Team...led her club to the league championship, also winning the local cup...team earned a promotion to the second-highest league...daughter of Michael and Senija Kurz...intends on majoring in youth development.
	Annika Laihanen - Tampere, Finland Played for the Ilves FS Tampere futsal team...also was a member of the Finland national under-19 team...enjoys walks with her dog, hanging out with friends, and snowboarding...drinks nothing but water...daughter of Heikki Laihanen...plans on majoring in Urban Planning and Public Affairs.
	Emma Main – Wellington, New Zealand St. Oran's / Victoria University of Wellington Played in the U17 Women's World Cup in Jordan in 2016 as a member of New Zealand's team...awarded the Golden Boot at the 2017 World Cup Qualifier (OFC Confederation Cup)...attended World Cup qualifiers in 2015, 2016, and 2017...named the College Sport Wellington Football Player of the Year for three straight years, from 2015 to 2017...named the Capital Football Women's Young Player of the Year in 2015, 2016, and 2017...was the Women's Central League Player of the Year in 2016...when she enrolls at UIC, it will be her first-ever visit to the US...daughter of Melanie and Greg Main...intends on majoring in accounting.
	Marissa Menendez – Frontenac, Missouri Villa Duschene High School Played two years at Villa Duschene, earning All-Conference honors both years...played on the AFA Fillies team two years higher than her actual age...won the Missouri State Cup, beating the #3 team in the nation for the championship...went undefeated in regionals and placed first in the highest division of the Midwest Regional League...member of the Missouri Olympic Development team, which placed second in the regional tournament...member of her high school's regional championship show choir team...valedictorian of her high school class...daughter of Michele and Manny Menendez...intends on majoring in chemical engineering.
	Sophia Olore – Winter Park, Florida Trinity Prep Started all four years at Trinity, and helped the team improve its record each season...led Trinity to a 13-5-1 record as a senior...the Saints were district and regional champions, and advanced to the state Final Four for the second year in a row in 2019...a regional championship and Final Four berth highlighted Olore's junior season in 2018...as a junior, she was named Best Defender and made the Florida Athletic Coaches Association All-State team...named team MVP, All-Conference, and selected to the All-Star Team as a senior...a four-year honor roll member, and a National Honor Society member...daughter of Tawny and Steve Olore...plans on majoring in pre-medical studies.
	Maeve Riordan – Naperville, Illinois Metea Valley High School / Illinois Transferred to UIC after one season at Illinois…led Metea Valley to the sectional final in all three seasons on the team...was the team's leading scorer and assist maker her junior and senior seasons...was a four-time All-Conference performer, including her one season on the cross country and track team...an Illinois state scholar, all-area, and all-state selection...qualified for state in the 4x400 relay...her brother was a collegiate wrestler and her mother played volleyball in college...enjoys yoga, lifeguarding, travel, and the outdoors...daughter of Erin and Michael Riordan...plans on majoring in urban planning and public affairs.
	Jackie Santibanez – Frostproof, Florida Frostproof High School Left Frostproof as the Bulldogs' all-time leading scorer...totaled 156 goals in her career, while also setting records for most goals in a season (63) and in a game (10)...led the team to the 2016 district championship...added district runner-up and regional appearances throughout her career...named First Team All-County and the Maxpreps Player of the Week...enjoys serving in a children's ministry, reading, hiking, and traveling...daughter of Amulfo and Alma Santibanez...intends on majoring in psychology.
	Leah Senese – Naperville, Illinois Neuqua Valley High School Joined Neuqua Valley's soccer team her junior year, after playing the previous two seasons on Sockers FC ECNL/Academy...led the team to a conference championship and a 14-6 record as a junior...the Wildcats were regional champions as well...scored two game-winning goals in conference play, including the golden goal in 2OT against rival Waubonsie...team peaked at #7 in the state rankings...a four-year honor roll student who made the All-Academic team in both of her seasons...volunteers at the humane society...daughter of John and Alison Senese...has two brothers, Jimmy and Justin...plans on majoring in kinesiology.
	Aidan Senior – Anoka, Minnesota Anoka High School Led Anoka to 10 wins her senior season...named to the all-conference and all-state teams...was also a decorated track and field athlete...was an all-conference selection in the 4x400 relay and long jump...part of the school record-setting 4x400 relay team...daughter of Barb Vraa and Wayne Senior...major at UIC is undecided.
	Tina Thorsen - Oslo, Norway Klein Oak High School (Spring, TX) / Providence Transferred to UIC from Providence, where she appeared in 11 games in 2017...totaled 107 minutes for the season, including a high of 20 at James Madison...did not attempt a shot...represented the Friars soccer team on the Student Athlete Advisory Council...was the offensive MVP of her high school team as a senior...was a three-year captain at Klein Oak and was the youngest captain in school history...played for the Skandia Cup championship in Norway in Lerkendal Stadium, the same venue her grandfather played in as a pro...father played soccer at Lehigh, and all her uncles played collegiately as well...mother played handball in college...enjoys sailing and coaching youth soccer...daughter of Paul and Sissel Thorsen...majoring in Business Management.
	Alexis Weeren – Fairfax, Virginia Chantilly High School / George Mason Transferred to UIC after spending two years at George Mason...the Patriots went 14-6-0, including an 8-2-0 A-10 mark, in 2018...played in three games, totaling 43 minutes, in 2018…she was a two-time Commissioner's Honor Roll member and made the Dean's List in three semesters at Mason...earned the Provost Scholar Award...led Chantilly High School to two district championships, two regional tournaments, and two state tournaments...served as team captain...played with the Southwestern Youth Association team that finished second in the 2017 Disney Tournament in Orlando...enjoys scuba diving and was a member of her high school's swimming and diving team...lived in India for two years...daughter of Ellen and Scott Weeren...plans on majoring in Computer Science.