UIC will face a Horizon League newcomer for the second straight match when the Flames visit Purdue Fort Wayne Thursday.

After defeating league newcomer Robert Morris last week, the Flames will look to build a winning streak as they fight for positioning near the top of the conference standings.  Currently in third place with 13 points, UIC is part of a top four that each sits just one point behind the team above it.  Both second-place Oakland and fourth-place Cleveland State have played one more match than UIC.

The Flames are receiving votes in this week's Top Drawer Soccer and United Soccer Coaches national polls, making it the first time this season that they have appeared in two different rankings.

The match is slated to start at 11:00 am on the turf pitch at Indiana Tech.

LAST TIME OUT

• The Flames bounced back from their only loss of the season with a 4-0 win over Robert Morris.
• Roberto Alonzo scored UIC's first goal and assisted on their fourth, a long-distance rocket by Alwin Seitz.
• In between, the Flames converted two penalty kicks.  It was the first time UIC was awarded two penalties since August 30, 2019 against Dayton, and the first time they converted twice from the spot since September 30, 2009.

SCOUTING THE MASTODONS

• Purdue Fort Wayne has lost their last two matches, following a two-match winning streak.
• Both of their wins came by 2-0 scores.  Both of their last two losses, to Robert Morris and Cleveland State, were 1-0 finals.
• Logan Lee is the team leader with three goals and seven points.
• Erik Josson has played every minute in goal, surrendering a 1.17 goals-against average and a .806 save percentage.

GOAL SCORERS

• UIC has spread the wealth, getting goals from eight players so far.
• Diego Mendoza, Nkusuwila Zulu, Pau Mateo, Jose Perez Flores, Jacob Graiber, Christian Crespo, Roberto Alonzo, and Alwin Seitz have all tallied.
• Mendoza's and Perez Flores' goals were the first of their careers.

A REFRESHING PEPSI

• Jose Perez Flores missed two matches but returned against Robert Morris with a goal.
• Perez Flores, known as "Pepsi" to his teammates, set season highs with five shots and three on goal against the Colonials.
• He has a point in three straight appearances, and a goal in his last two.

WHERE WE RANK

• UIC leads the Horizon League and is sixth in the nation with 16.0 shots per game.
• The Flames are in the top 30 nationally in shots on goal, goals, and points per game, as well as goal differential.
• The team has the third-best goals-against average in the Horizon League.

MASTODON MEETINGS

• Thursday's match will be just the second all-time meeting between the programs.
• The schools met in 2013, when Purdue Fort Wayne (then known as IPFW) was a member of the Summit League.
• UIC came away with a 4-0 win at Flames Field.