CHICAGO -- The UIC offense exploded for three goals in the second half Monday (Sept. 23), as the Flames shut out Valparaiso, 3-0, at Flames Field.
 
"We were disappointed in the team the entire first half," said head coach Tom Anagnost. "They didn't take care of the ball; technically it was poor. But we regrouped and they got after it in the second half and were definitely on the front foot. Definitely more clinical and created a lot of chances and caused some turmoil which resulted in three goals."
 
After a scoreless first half, the Flames offense exploded for three goals in the final 45 minutes. Emily Kavanaugh scored a brace in the second half alone, with the first goal breaking the 0-0 tie in the 62^nd minute. Grace Haines served the ball into the box, which deflected off the goalie and right to Kavanaugh who finished on the open net.
 
Keri Birkenhead pushed the lead to 2-0 less than four minutes later. Her first attempt went off a teammate and right back to the foot of Birkenhead. Her second attempt went over the netminder's hands and under the crossbar, her second of the season.
 
Kavanaugh capped the scoring in the 88^th minute for her second goal of the game, and season, after Birkenhead served a long through ball. The pass found a streaking Kavanaugh who played the ball past the keeper and into the net.
 
UIC hits the road to face Northern Kentucky on Saturday, Sept. 28.
 
Moments That Mattered

• There was one total shot on goal in the opening half between the two teams, with Sydney Gratz taking a strike on target which was saved by Valpo's Georgia Henkel.
• UIC's offense woke up in the 62^nd minute the first of three goals. Kavanaugh scored her first goal of the season after Haines' service deflected off the goalie and left the sophomore with an open net.
• Birkenhead pushed the lead to 2-0 in the 67^th minute. Her first shot on goal was deflected away by her own teammate before coming back to Birkenhead. She went up-and-over the goalie and under the crossbar for her second goal of the season.
• Valparaiso fired off its lone shot on goal in the 68^th minute. Cierra Welch took an attempt from outside the box, which was easily saved by Annika Laihanen. Laihanen was making her second career start.
• Birkenhead assisted on the third goal, sending a long through ball to Kavanaugh, who beat the keeper in the 88^th minute.

Facts and Figures

• UIC now has three players with multi-goal games in program history, with two of them coming in the past two games. Jackie Santibanez, the reigning Horizon League Offensive Player of the Week scored two in a win over Wright State on Friday before Kavanaugh netted a pair Monday.
• After being limited to one shot on goal in the first half, UIC had six in the final 45 minutes, with three finding the back of the net.
• The Flames held a 16-5 advantage in shots and a 4-2 edge in corner kicks.
• Annika Laihanen recorded her first-career clean sheet, saving one attempt on the night.
• Birkenhead led the team with five shots while Gratz and Kavanaugh each had two shots on goal.
• The teams were each flagged with three offsides penalties.