UIC will hit the road for the first time since the opening match, traveling to Wright State for a Wednesday afternoon showdown.

With a road trip under their belts, the Flames have experience with traveling this season, but Dustin Downey noted a key change in this week's match.  "One thing that will be different is we'll be playing outside for the first time," he said.  "We got outside in training this week to acclimate ourselves.  It was good to see the sun and be in the fresh air; the girls enjoyed it and were buzzing pretty good.  Other than that we just need to keep doing what we've been doing, take care of the details and the things we need to do to be successful."

The Flames enter action tied atop the Horizon League standings with a perfect 3-0 record.  It is the best start to a season in program history, as well as the best record after three conference matches.  As one might expect from a team with three wins in three matches, cohesion is already high among the young Flames squad.

"They're already a pretty close group.  They hang out all the time and that carries over onto the field," Downey observed.  "They're starting to get a feel for team principles and the way you try to play, and once you start playing with each other, the better sense you get of players' tendencies and how our team will mesh together.  We're just trying to get a little better every week individually and collectively."

Flames senior Savannah Jackson is the Horizon League Offensive Player of the Week.  Her brace helped the Flames get past Robert Morris, 3-1.  UIC has had a player of the week after every match this year.  Lena Kurz won Defensive Player of the Week honors twice, after posting consecutive shutouts to begin the campaign.

Wednesday's match can be seen on ESPN3.

OPENING KICK

• UIC will face Wright State in a Horizon League matchup Wednesday.
• The Flames have won three straight to open the season, and nine of their last ten matches dating to last season.
• Two of the Flames' wins have come via shutout.  They have allowed one goal this season.

JACKSON'S ACTION

• Savannah Jackson leads UIC and the Horizon League with three goals.  She also leads the team in shots and shots on goal, and is first in the conference in shots on goal per game.
• She is 12th in the nation in goals per game, and ninth in shots on goal per game.
• She has seen nine of her 12 shots on the season go on target.

HELPING OUT

• Kaitlyn Montague assisted on all three of UIC's goals against Robert Morris.
• Montague has four assists on the season (1.33 per game) to lead the Horizon League.  She is third in the NCAA in assists per game.
• She has shown to be equally adept at initiating restarts and generating offense from the run of play.  Two of her assists came on free kicks, while the other two came on passing within the Flames' attack.

 SCOUTING THE RAIDERS

• Wright State enters with a 1-2 record.  They won their lone home game to date, a 2-1 victory over Detroit Mercy.
• Three players have scored a goal on the campaign.  Only one of those goals was assisted.
• Jessika Seward has gone the distance in goal, posting a 1.89 goals-against average and a .760 save percentage.

DOING IT WITH DEFENSE

• UIC has the second stingiest defense in the Horizon League.  They have allowed only one goal this season.  IUPUI, having only played two matches, has allowed none.
• The Flames' overall save percentage, .941, ranks second in the conference.
• With two shutouts, UIC ranks first in the conference.

RAIDER RUMBLINGS

• Wright State enjoys a 5-2 advantage in the all-time series.
• UIC's wins came in 2016 and 2019, via shutout each time.
• The Raiders won the only postseason meeting, 2-1 in the 2017 Horizon League quarterfinals.
• UIC is 1-3 in matches at Alumni Field.