UIC scored two first-half goals and outlasted Milwaukee, 2-1, Tuesday afternoon.

Jose Perez Flores scored early, and Christian Crespo doubled the advantage before the break.  Sokratis Vasilas was called on to make four crucial saves in the first half.  The Panthers scored in the 63^rd minute, but UIC's back line otherwise thwarted every attempt they made to connect a final pass down the stretch.

"As anticipated, it was another classic rivalry matchup between these two programs," Sean Phillips said.  "Milwaukee has very good countering capabilities, and they created three good chances in the first half and our keeper made three good saves.  Pepsi [Perez Flores] had a good finish; Crespo had a heavy shot from the top of box. 

"I think it was a deserved two-goal lead but it was not surprising that Milwaukee came out firing and had more of the game in the second half.  They had a goal and other chances that were good.  We have to work on defending for the full 90, and being sharper with that final pass.  It was a good resilient effort by the guys in the second half.  Milwaukee had momentum, but we had enough of the game to come home with all three points."

Match Highlights

• Sokratis Vasilas was tested in the 11^th minute when Milwaukee got free close to the net.  He saved the initial blast on goal, and also made the play on the rebound shot.
• UIC drew first blood in the 13^th minute.  Jose Perez Flores beat the keeper from the top of the 18 after being set up by Diego Mendoza and Christian Crespo.
• Alwin Seitz, a seventh-minute replacement, made some noise in minute 21.  He drew a foul to earn a free kick from 27 yards out.  He took the kick and sent it on goal.  On the Panther counter, they manufactured a shot by the post, but Seitz recovered after the pass was made and blocked it.
• Crespo doubled UIC's advantage in the 32^nd minute.  A pass from Nkusuwila Zulu found him 25 yards away from the goal.  He did not hesitate to unload a shot, which was well-placed to beat Nick Chiappa.
• Zulu created some late offense with a give-and-go down the chute.  Upon receiving the return pass, he put a header off the crossbar.  Just two minutes later, he had another shot that went wide.  In the last couple of minutes of the first half, he had a try sail high.
• UIC had the first good look of the second half when Perez Flores served in a corner kick.  Juan Gutierrez tried a shot, and the deflection trickled to where Perez Flores was re-entering the fray.  He gathered the loose ball and had a shot go wide.
• The Panthers had a free kick just outside the box in the 60^th minute, which went toward the net but high.  In the 63^rd, they had numbers in close for a header.  The ball ricocheted inside the six, ultimately going to the foot of Paolo Gratton for the finish.
• Milwaukee continued to press forward, but on several occasions were unable to connect in the final third thanks to good positioning by UIC's back line.  They had two chances late in the match off of throw-ins, but shots by David Cox and Jake Kelderman missed the frame.
• Late shots by Perez Flores and Zulu were off target, and one by Crespo was saved, as the Flames had enough control to deny Milwaukee any shot attempts in the last 10 minutes.

Facts and Figures

• Roberto Alonzo, Christian Crespo, and Juan Gutierrez joined the starting lineup for the first time this season.
• The goals were the first of the season for both Perez Flores and Crespo.  On the young season, UIC has five goals from five different players.
• Zulu's assist was his second of the campaign.
• Vasilas had four saves, all in the first half.
• Zulu had a game high five shots.  Crespo was the only player from either team to put more than one shot on goal.
• The Flames outshot Milwaukee 16-14, setting a season high, but the hosts had a 5-4 edge in shots on goal.
• Milwaukee took four of the match's six corner kicks.
• Eddie Garcia and Jacob Graiber both received a yellow card in the last nine minutes.  One Panther, Colin Alba, had an early second half caution.
• The result was the ninth straight meeting decided by one goal or a draw.

Up Next

• The Flames will have a week off before their next match.
• UIC will return home to play IUPUI on February 28.
• Kickoff is scheduled for 2:00 pm at the Indoor Sports Center in Rockford.