Grace Setter scored two goals and led UIC to a 2-1 win over Detroit Mercy Tuesday.  She beat an oncoming keeper on a breakaway in the first half, and broke a deadlock off a corner kick in the 71^st minute.

"We knew coming in that Detroit is a tough place to play, and that the weather might cause some adversity," Dustin Downey said.  "We got a goal in the first half against the wind which was huge for us.  I was impressed with how the team did getting the ball into their end of the field, especially in the first half against wind.  Going with the wind in the second half allowed us to get some more dangerous chances on goal."

The Flames finished with 17 shots and 10 on goal.  Detroit Mercy tied the game in the 65^th minute, but it took Setter just six minutes to put her team back on top.  "At times it was frustrating, but you have to remember we only had two days of practice this week," Downey said.  "We weren't quite as tidy as we'd like to be.  I actually think Detroit Mercy's goal gave us a kick in the butt.  We knew we had to get going and the girls responded really well.  Grace had a great game.

"Our bodies were not where they usually are, so to grind out a win was really good."

UIC improves to 5-2 in Horizon League play, and can clinch a spot in the conference tournament with a win next week against Green Bay.  "We're going to get back to training and control what we can control," Downey stated.  "We're going to focus on us, have a good week of training and hopefully take care of business Monday."

Match Highlights

• The Flames had the lion's share of chances in the early stages.  Savannah Jackson took a 10^th-minute shot that was the team's first to go on goal.  Lena Kurz was tested for the first time shortly later, but efforts by Jelena Zbiljic and Brielle Gomez forced Cece Muskovac to stay on her toes.
• After the initial barrage, both sides settled into a defensive groove and did not allow the other to build any high quality chances.  Not until the 38^th minute did the next opportunity materialize, when Kathryn Rutledge got off a shot on goal.
• Setter's first goal came in the 40^th minute.  Brielle Gomez played her forward from the defensive third.  Setter advanced between two Titan defenders, and as the keeper came out, scooted a shot past her to the left post.
• Setter put another try on target in the 61^st minute.  After the save was made, Detroit Mercy pushed forward and eventually drew a foul just outside the left edge of the box.  The free kick went to the far post, where it was headed centrally and slammed home by Nevada Larson.
• UIC got right back to business.  Kaitlyn Montague lined up a corner kick, and Setter used her 6-foot-1 frame to meet the ball at a high point and head it back inside the near post.
• Up by a goal again, the Flames' defense made sure it would hold up.  The Titans tried only two shots the rest of the match, neither of which bothered Kurz.  Louise Trapp and Gomez applied forward pressure to keep the home team off balance.

Facts and Figures

• Jackson returned to the Starting XI, which otherwise remained intact.
• UIC's 10 shots on goal tied the team's season high.
• Setter's brace was the Flames' second of the season.  Jackson had the first, against Robert Morris.
• Montague logged her team-leading fifth assist.  Gomez' helper was her third.
• All four of Setter's shots were on goal.  Gomez put two of her three on target.
• Kurz made four saves.
• The Flames took 10 corner kicks; the Titans only three.

Up Next

• The Flames will close the regular season against Green Bay Monday.
• The match will start at 1 pm.  Depending on the weather forecast and field conditions, it may be played at Flames Field.
• It will be Senior Day for UIC's five seniors.