UIC scored a season high three goals, and won their third straight match to open the season, in a 3-1 win over Robert Morris Wednesday afternoon.

Savannah Jackson scored two goals, and Kaitlyn Montague assisted on all three markers.  Leah Senese, who made the first start of her career, notched her first goal as a Flame.

"We have a resilient, resilient group of young players.  They know how to compete, they know how to fight, they know how to battle, and they're going to play to the last whistle.  We gave one away today, which was tough, but we'll watch it on film and try to fix it," said Dustin Downey.

Jackson scored first, late in a first half that saw Robert Morris put six shots on goal.  "I didn't think we executed our game plan very well in the first half.  We came off at halftime and talked about it and the second half was much better.  I think it says something about a team that is struggling to play the way they want to and still finds a way to win," Downey said.

Senese put the Flames up 2-0, but the Colonials pulled one back six minutes later.  Jackson's brace in the 86^th minute sealed the results.

"We were persistent on both ends of the ball.  We have kids on the back who are inexperienced, but they were brought in to this program because we knew their character and their values.  They've shown every bit of that," Downey continued.  "Same thing with our forwards.  Savannah Jackson has a will to score goals.  Then you have our midfield, who's running on a huge field and never stopping, being the engine of our team.  When you put those pieces together, you expect a successful outcome."

The Flames will travel to Wright State next week.

Match Highlights

• Louise Trapp had some moments of danger for UIC early in the match.  She was in front of the goal in the second minute for a shot that forced the keeper to reach high for the save.  In the 15^th minute, Trapp won possession and a corner kick.  Jackson got a head on the service and sent it high.
• Meanwhile, Robert Morris had some early shots of their own, most of which Lena Kurz saw cleanly and made routine saves.  Grace Haines defended Sheridan Reid on consecutive possessions 1v1 and both times denied the visitors any buildup.
• Reid was open in the 27^th minute and was able to gather herself for a quality shot.  Kurz came off her line just enough to cut down the angle and make the save.
• The Flames earned a corner kick that led to their first goal.  Montague took a shot initially, which was blocked, but she gathered the rebound and sent another attempt toward the net.  Louise Trapp deflected it to the left side of the goal, where Jackson had an easy tap-in for a 1-0 lead.
• Keri Birkenhead had two excellent looks in rapid succession just past the hour mark.  Maeve Riordan played her open outside the right post for a shot that went wide of that post.  Just later, from a nearly identical spot, Birkenhead hit the right post with her shot.
• Montague served in a free kick from the sideline that Senese made a play on from the far post, heading it high past the keeper.  "Kaitlyn has been a mainstay for us," Downey said.  "You talk about character, she graduated high school early and she's a 4.0 student.  She's one of the first ones in to practice, she's doing extra work, she's watching film.  There's no doubt she's going to be successful when you break down who she is."
• The Flames conceded their first goal of the season in the 78^th minute.  Gabriella Lecuona was played ahead behind the defense, and she was able to beat Kurz with a shot to the right.
• Beautiful connections led to UIC's insurance goal.  Montague again was the instigator, playing a long ball to Birkenhead wide of the goal.  Birkenhead sent in a cross to the far post, where Jackson timed her leap perfectly to send a deadly header into the net.

Facts and Figures

• Senese was the only addition to a Starting XI that otherwise remained intact from the first two matches.
• Jackson's brace gave her a team-high three goals on the season.  It was the team's first brace since October 23, 2019.
• Montague tied the program record with her three assists.
• Senese's goal was the first of her career.  She played a career high 83 minutes.
• Birkenhead had an assist for the second straight match.
• Jackson and Birkenhead each had five shots to tie for most in the game.  Jackson put four of her tries on target.
• UIC matched their season highs with 20 shots and 10 on goal.  RMU's 13 shots and eight on goal were the most by a Flames opponent this year.
• Jackson, Riordan, and Makena Shaw were all recipients of a yellow card.
• Kurz made seven saves.  She had started the season with a 257:15 scoreless streak.

Up Next

• UIC will visit Wright State next Wednesday.
• The match will start at noon Central.
• Currently scheduled for Alumni Field, the match is slated to be streamed on an ESPN platform.