A hat trick from
Bar Hazut, and two goals by
Jesus Perez, provided offensive fireworks in a 5-1 Flames victory over Valparaiso Friday night.
Hazut had a natural hat trick in his first collegiate start, opening the scoring at 0:55 and making it 3-0 before a half hour passed. Perez added his first tally 22 seconds later.
The five goals were the most in the
Sean Phillips era, and the highest output since UIC scored five against Cleveland State in 2008.
UIC moved to 2-1 on the young season in the first of four straight home matches.
Moments That Mattered
- The large crowd at Flames Field had barely settled in when Hazut scored first. Jacob Graiber played from the back line ahead to Bukola Abdulwahab. "Bukie" chipped the ball over a retreating defender, ahead of Hazut, who got there after a couple of bounces and with the goalkeeper coming out, flicked it over his head from the top of the box.
- UIC continued to dominate possession with Hazut becoming the beneficiary in the seventh minute. In an eerily similar buildup as his first goal, a bounding ball eluded a Valpo defender and Hazut outran his man to corral it. The keeper was forced to come off his line again, and this time Hazut sent it low to the right to make it 2-0.
- Valpo continued to find it very difficult to mount any semblance of an attack. The Flames controlled numerous chances, including a shot by Abdulwahab that resulted in Edvin Hoist's first save. In minute 28, Jesus Perez created an opportunity with a run down the left flank. He sent a shot toward the area, blocked there by a Valpo defender but right to the foot of Hazut, who had filled the center nicely and on the first touch rocketed the ball to the lower left corner.
- Just 22 seconds later, Perez got on the board himself. Christian Crespo played him centrally from the right corner of the box. Perez moved left, drawing two defenders and the goalkeeper in that direction, and then shot right to an open net.
- With a new goalkeeper and a renewed defensive intensity in the second half, Valpo had the better of play for the first 15 minutes. Their efforts were rewarded when Ryan Madondo very nicely headed a cross back into play from behind the right post. Mason Marcey shot to Sokratis Vasilas' right, and though the Flames keeper appeared to get a fingertip on it, Marcey got Valpo on the board.
- Just a minute later, Vasilas made a save diving to his left on a dangerous attempt that threatened to make it a two-goal game. After that, the Flames righted the ship and got the offense back in gear. Nkusuwila Zulu lasered an attempt low that got past the back line but not the keeper. Jacob Graiber headed a ball toward the crossbar, but Jorn-Jan van de Beld leapt to poke it over the bar.
- Zulu made a nice crossing pass to Perez who once again dribbled in and forced the keeper to commit to a position. Perez booted a low shot past the keeper's outstretched left foot to make it 5-1 in the 76th minute.
Postgame Reaction
Facts and Figures
- Hazut notched the 18th hat trick in program history, and the first since Max Todd scored thrice against Milwaukee last October.
- Perez had the third two-goal game of his career. By adding an assist, he set a career high with seven points.
- Five different Flames had an assist. Christian Crespo and Nkusuwila Zulu each had the first of their careers.
- Vasilas made six saves.
- The Flames had a comfortable margin in shots, 19-10, but only had two more attempts on goal than did Valpo (9-7).
- Two yellow cards were issued, both to Crusaders.
- Hazut had a game high five shots. Perez added four, with Crespo, Zulu, and Jose Perez Flores each attempting two.
- UIC won its 14th straight home match.
- The Flames won their sixth straight against Valparaiso. It was the first match between the schools out of the last 11 to have a final margin of more than one goal.
- UIC improved to 12-0-2 against the Crusaders at Flames Field.
Up Next
- For the second straight weekend, it will be a short turnaround for the Flames.
- Western Illinois will visit Flames Field on Sunday.
- Kickoff will be at 7 pm.
