Pau Mateo scored late in the first half, and UIC's defense was locked in the rest of the way in a 1-0 win over DePaul Wednesday afternoon. 

Sean Phillips' Recap
"You always throw the records out when it's a rivalry game.  Every rivalry game, especially those with our local rivals, usually involves a set piece goal, usually involves a lot of battling, and you have to be focused.  We were focused over more of the 90 minutes than we had been in previous games."

Turning Points

• DePaul's fans had to hold their breath in the 26^th minute when Bukola Abdulwahab stole the ball outside the 18 and worked free for an open shot.  His try went wide of the net.
• The Flames scored in the 42^nd minute when Jonathan Mayen initiated a corner kick.  Eddie Garcia was at the far post to head it toward the goal, and when it fell to the ground, Mateo tapped it in.
• DePaul had consecutive set pieces in the 72^nd minute, from the top of the box and from the corner, but the Flames defended well and did not allow a shot attempt.

Match Details
The Flames created a number of promising situations from the match's outset.  Younes Dayekh made some individual moves but could not get past a 1-on-3 matchup.  Bukola Abdulwahab used footwork of his own to set up a corner kick.  A subsequent shot by Dayekh seemed to catch the keeper off guard, and he stumbled but saw the shot go off the crossbar.

Substitutes had an impact as well, with Josiah Ash and Nkusuwila Zulu – making his season debut – each had a shot on goal.  The Flames outshot their hosts 15-9, but put a season low three tries on goal.  Speaking of the disparity of shots, especially compared to the barrage against Milwaukee in the last match, Phillips said, "that was one of the challenges.  For the first time in a few games, we limited the opponent's chances.  And if limiting our opponent's chances limits our chances, so be it.  I was very pleased with how we created chances today, both from the run of play and by pressing.  We have to get a little sharper and a little more efficient."

The Flames' goal came via efficiency on a corner kick.  "The set piece goal was outstanding," Phillips stated.  "That goal was the result of a quality service with everybody making disciplined runs and staying true to the runs they were assigned."

Andres Moreno made several winning plays that did not show up on the stat sheet.  He made an early steal that allowed him to distribute from the corner.  He was credited with one shot, taken when he picked up a loose ball and unleashed a high attempt.

"We changed our approach a little at the half and that put [Moreno] on the ball more.  When he gets the ball at his feet, he can drive at people well, he can connect passes well, he has a nose for where the ball ends up and you saw some of that today."

Phillips continued, "It was the most workmanlike, honest performance from our midfield."

Another part of the midfield, Aaron Nguyen, was on the spot defensively as the second half wore on.  He recovered quickly after a Flames turnover, preventing a transition opportunity, and later he made a clearance in the box to end a Blue Demon threat.  Andres Vasquez took center stage in the last 10 minutes with a well-played save and an even better-timed dive on a bounding ball as DePaul got in.  His third shutout of the season required four total saves.

"Rivalry games are tough ones to play and DePaul is a tough place to play at," Phillips concluded.  "They're a good team; there's a reason they were 3-1-1 coming in.  This is probably the best team Mark [Plotkin] has had here, and we knew that to get a result here we were going to have to be sharp for as many moments as we could."

The Flames will return home Saturday night to host IUPUI.