UIC returns to Horizon League play in full force with a trip to Northern Kentucky Saturday evening.  The Flames (5-3-1 overall) and the Norse (4-4) each enter the match with a 1-0 conference record.  It kicks off the back half of the season, which consists exclusively of Horizon League matches.

The road trip is the team's first venture away from Flames Field in over three weeks.  It's an itinerary they'll have to get used to, as five of the next six matches are on the road.

The Flames are riding momentum following two straight wins, and victories in three of their last four matches.  They have posted the best non-conference record in program history, and they won their first conference match for the second straight year.

Kickoff under the lights in Highland Heights will be at 6 pm Central.  The match will be available on ESPN3.
 
Last Time Out

• The Flames defeated Valparaiso, 3-0, on Monday.
• It was UIC's sixth shutout of the season, setting a new program record for most shutouts in a season
• Freshman Annika Laihanen had her first shutout in just her second career start.
• The Flames set a season high with three goals.

Flames to Watch

• Lena Kurz leads the Horizon League with five shutouts.  She is second in the conference in save percentage and goals-against average.
• UIC has had a brace in the last two matches, with Emily Kavanaugh (Valpo) and Jackie Santibanez (Wright State) achieving the feat.
• Along with Kavanaugh and Santibanez, Emma Main and Megan Bowman have game-winning goals this season.

Scouting the Norse

• Northern Kentucky picked up a 2-0 win over IUPUI in its Horizon League opener last Friday.
• Megan Sullivan had two assists and Mimi Stines made six saves to record her first career shutout. Stines is the Horizon League Defensive Player of the Week.
• Shawna Zaken has six goals, leading the Horizon League.
• Stines has a 1.26 goals-against average and a .836 save percentage.

Doing it With Defense

• UIC has the stingiest defense in the Horizon League. The Flames have allowed a conference-low four goals entering this weekend's action.
• Though not all teams have played an equal number of matches, UIC has allowed a Horizon-leading 0.44 goals per game.
• The Flames' overall save percentage, .886, is the best in the conference.
• With six shutouts, UIC ranks first in the conference.
• Every result UIC has earned this year has come via shutout.