UIC took every punch that #8 Kentucky dealt, and issued a number of their own, in the season opener in Lexington Thursday night.  The Wildcats struck shortly after halftime, and again on a counter very late, to take a 2-0 win over the Flames.

"We were good in key moments in the first half," Sean Phillips said, continuing, "compliments to Kentucky; they made it difficult for us to play the way we wanted to play.    Our guys fought, they worked, they created good chances, but Kentucky was able to get us and put the game away."
 
Scoring Summary

• Within the first two minutes after halftime, Kentucky scored first on a cross whipped into the box, to the head of Eythor Bjorgolfsson, whose redirection found the narrow opening between Isaac Carvajal and the left post.
• UIC had all its players forward to execute an 88^th minute corner kick.  When Kentucky cleared it, they had a 2v1 in transition and forced Carvajal to make a move, leaving the back side of the net open for a clean shot.

The Flames did not flinch against a top-10 opponent, and even had the first shot and corner kick of the match as part of an inspired start.  Kentucky asserted themselves in moments as well, but a trio of saves by Isaac Carvajal, making his Flames debut in goal, kept the match scoreless.

"We had some very good moments tonight, especially in the first half," Phillips said.  "When you're on the road against a team that has as much quality and experience as Kentucky, you need your goalkeeper to make saves in the first half and Isaac did exactly that."

Christian Crespo and Ezau Millan had chances for the Flames late in the half to give the team momentum at the break.  "I thought we were positioned going into halftime poised to get a result," Phillips observed.  "We were not as sharp coming out as we were going in.  When you give up a chance and then a goal in the first two minutes, you put yourself behind the 8-ball."

Kentucky had more of the game on both ends of the field for a good stretch of time immediately after their first goal.  They earned a flurry of corner kicks, while simultaneously keeping the Flames from generating any looks at the goal.  Josh Torres and Preston Huitron entered the match later in the second half, and their presence gave the team a spark.

"In the last 15 minutes, guys kept plugging away, chipping away, creating chances and working," Phillips said.  Pau Mateo put a shot toward the goal that cleared the crossbar, but not by much.  Torres got in and forced a save in the 84^th minute.  UIC had a presence in the box late, and there was conversation between the referees as to whether a foul or handball occurred along the end line, before ultimately awarding the corner kick that sprung Kentucky's insurance goal.

"In the moments that we were brave and went forward, we were good.   We need to make more of those as the season goes on," Phillips concluded.

The Flames will host Cleveland State for the home opener Monday evening at 7:00.