UIC shut out Oakland in a 1-0 victory in the first match of the season.

Alexis Weeren's goal, coming just two minutes after she entered the match in the second half, was the difference. Lena Kurz made six saves, though the Flames did not allow any attempts to reach her frame after they took the lead.

"We came out with intensity and looked like a team that wanted to play," said Dustin Downey, who earned his first win as the team's interim head coach. "Both teams played well. Oakland had stretches and moments that they were the better team, we had our moments too, and we stayed in the right mindset the whole game."

Savannah Jackson had a team high three shots in her Flames debut. She was one of nine players who saw action for the first time.

Match Highlights

• UIC started fast and earned two corner kicks in the first two minutes. After that, Oakland had all the best moments of offense. They peppered Kurz with four first-half shots, while the Flames did not have a try go on goal in the first 45 minutes.
• "A lot of their chances were from outside the box," Downey noted, praising his defense for not allowing Oakland to get off a quality shot. "We never lost focus; we bent but never broke."
• Oakland put another shot on target in the first seconds of the second half. After a few minutes, Jackson had a shot reach the keeper for UIC's first shot on goal.
• Jelena Zbiljic unleashed a shot that was pushed over the line. The ensuing corner kick was headed down by Grace Setter. In the following action, the Flames did not allow a clearance, and Weeren was in the right place to send the ball into the net.
• "We told everyone to expect to play. Their mentalities were good. Alexis stayed ready and she deserved her moment," Downey said. "It couldn't have been written any better. She seized the momentum and I'm very proud of her and happy for her."
• The Flames continued to apply offensive pressure after going up 1-0. Shots and corner kicks went exclusively UIC's way until a harmless, 87^th minute attempt by Oakland sailed over the crossbar.

Facts and Figures

• Jackson, a senior transfer, and freshmen Makena Shaw, Brielle Gomez, Louise Trapp, Grace Setter, Kaitlyn Montague, and Allie Tefend all made their debuts in the starting lineup.
• Maeve Riordan made her first start.
• Ryan Skall and Zbiljic made their first appearances as substitutes.
• Kurz had six saves and the 12^th clean sheet of her career.
• Oakland finished with an 11-8 advantage in shots, and a 6-3 margin in shots on goal.
• The Flames took six corner kicks to Oakland's two.
• Jackson's three shots led the team. Five Flames had one shot each.
• Keri Birkenhead was shown the match's only yellow card.

Up Next

• UIC will host Youngstown State next Thursday.
• The match, moved from the originally scheduled date of next Wednesday, will take place at the Indoor Sports Center in Rockford at 1:00 pm.