UIC fell out of first place in the Horizon League after a 1-0 setback at IUPUI Wednesday afternoon.

The Jaguars took the lead in the 54^th minute after a corner kick went off of Lena Kurz' fingertips and to the foot of Valentine Pursey for an easy tap-in.  Following that goal, the Jaguars did well to prevent the Flames from building much of an attack the rest of the match.

"We needed this one to keep our position at the top," Dustin Downey said.  "We had chances, and I thought our chances in front of the goal were better than theirs.  But they capitalized on their chances and we didn't on ours.  That's the difference in the game."

The Flames were shut out for the first time all year.  Savannah Jackson had a game-high four shots, including UIC's best chance at a goal in the 38^th minute.  That was one of only two UIC attempts that went on goal.

"We changed tactics late to try to get that goal.  Credit to IUPUI for sticking with it and making it tough for us the full 90 minutes.  We're a young team and everyone is learning game after game.  Next time we're in that situation, we might make different decisions," Downey continued.

"I told the bench that they changed the game in the first half and after the game I said the same thing.  It was a team effort.  Everyone on the field contributed to trying to win.  I'll never be disappointed if we play like that every game.  They way they played, you can't discredit their efforts.  As a coach you can't ask for much more than what they gave today."

Match Highlights

• The Flames started fast and earned a third-minute corner kick, but it was their defense that was called upon early in the match.  Grace Haines hustled back to deflect the ball of a Jaguar for a goal kick.  A minute later, Kurz cut down the angle on a shot that was consequently pushed wide.  Kurz made the save of the game in the 14^th minute, leaping to nudge a shot over the crossbar.
• UIC started to generate more moments of offense starting in the 26^th minute.  Louise Trapp lobbed a ball into the six toward a streaking Leah Senese, but keeper AP Woodall got to it first.  Haines headed a well-placed free kick down toward the net but wide.  Jackson tried to lead a teammate down the chute, but her pass was just a little too heavy.
• Jackson was on the spot and alertly intercepted a pass between Jaguar defenders deep in the IUPUI end in the 38^th minute.  She took a couple of strides to get open for a shot, which went right to the keeper's chest.
• A late-first half flurry saw Ryan Skall head a free kick wide of the net, and a corner kick get pushed around the net before Woodall had to punch it over the line as the half expired.
• Early in the second half, Kaitlyn Montague sent a free kick from outside the box on goal.  IUPUI earned a corner kick, which went down the end line.  Kurz jumped up and back and got two hands on the ball but couldn't secure it as she landed.  Pursey was able to tap the loose ball over the line for the match's only goal.
• In the last 10 minutes, UIC's urgency resulted in a few chances.  Passing from Keri Birkenhead to Louise Trapp to Maeve Riordan afforded the latter a shot that went high.  Jackson had two shots blocked and the Flames took two corner kicks, but nothing significant materialized.

Facts and Figures

• Kaitlyn Montague and Leah Senese returned to the starting lineup.  Jelena Zbiljic remained in the First XI for the second straight game.
• IUPUI had the slight edge in shots, 12-10.  Three Jaguar shots went on target, as did two of the Flames'.
• Kurz had two saves, marking the third straight game in which she was required to make two or fewer stops.
• Each team had five corner kicks.
• There were two yellow cards issued, both to Jaguars.

Up Next

• The Flames will host league-leading Milwaukee next week.
• The match will be held in Rockford, with a 1 pm start time.