UIC knocked off Southern Illinois, 1-0, in the regular season finale, to earn a first-round bye and the right to host a quarterfinal match in the Missouri Valley tournament.

For large stretches, the match was evenly played, befitting two teams that finished in the top four of the final Valley standings.  A Megan Bowman penalty kick in the final 30 seconds of the first half was the only tally.  SIU doubled their shot output from the first half to the second, but UIC's defense was sharp, as was keeper Lauren Keiser.



The Flames did have more of the opening stages, with Chopper Carriere and Makena Shaw linking up, and Jelena Zbiljic finishing with a couple of shots in the first 11 minutes.  The 30 mile per hour wind was at UIC's back in the first half, helping a couple of long free kicks end up on goal, constituting two of SIU's four first half saves.

Spectacular saves on each end made it seem as though the first half would end scoreless.  Keiser used both hands to punch a shot away, taken by a Saluki who had gotten behind the defense.  After a push on the counter, UIC assembled numbers in the box to the benefit of Madison Ferris, whose point-blank shot was turned away.  In the following action, a foul was called in the box with 27 seconds remaining.  Bowman stepped surely to the spot and buried her kick to the left corner.

The physicality increased in the second half as the Flames protected their lead.  UIC took only one second-half shot, even as they found opportunities to attack in between the big plays made by their defense.  Makenna Maloy authored one, heading the ball out of the box and drawing a foul after SIU had engineered a well-timed run.

SIU played a woman down for the last half hour.  Chopper Carriere fouled Paris Walsh, and Walsh reacted with a couple of shoves and earned a red card.  Even with the advantage, the Flames sat back, and the game plan paid off with the team's eighth shutout of the season.

UIC and SIU finished with 18 points in Valley play each, and by virtue of winning the head-to-head match, UIC claimed the third seed in the conference tournament.  They will play the winner of the UNI-Belmont match in a quarterfinal at Flames Field on Sunday.