BOWLING GREEN, Ohio (Oct. 18, 2023) – The UIC men's soccer team returned to road action in the Missouri Valley Conference Wednesday, as it played the first of two straight away matches with conference season winding down. After a back and forth first half that saw the Falcons take a 2-1 lead, the Flames were unable to kick-start the offense in the second half, dropping their second conference match of the year by a 3-1 final score.
 
FIRST HALF

• The Falcons jumped onto the front foot early in the match, as Bowling Green took the first three shots of the match. They would find their breakthrough in the 22^nd minute, as a skillful right-footed shot snuck past Oren Asher (Hetzliya, Israel/Rutgers) to put the Falcons ahead 1-0.
• Bart Muns (Amsterdam, Netherlands) equalized the match for the Flames just six minutes later, as Falcons keeper Brendan Graves fanned on a clearing attempt, leaving the net wide open for Muns to power the shot home and level the match at 1-1.

 

Right place, right time for Muns' team-leading seventh goal of the year!#ChicagosCollegeTeam pic.twitter.com/JNiffM84Hi

— UIC Men's Soccer (@UIC_MSOC) October 18, 2023

 

• The match would not remain tied for long, as the Falcons used a counter-attack to jump back ahead in the 35^th minute after a shot off the crossbar led to a rebound goal.

 
SECOND HALF

• The Flames struggled to get ahold of the ball for the first 20 minutes of the second half, as the Falcons out-shot UIC 7-0 in that time frame.
• Asher made several key saves in the second half, including a 71^st minute denial on a strong left-footed shot from the far side of the box that was destined for the back of the net.

 

71'

Asher says no again!#FireUpFlames pic.twitter.com/0WnR6d5oLq

— UIC Men's Soccer (@UIC_MSOC) October 19, 2023

 

• With the Flames pushing everyone forward looking for a late equalizer, the Falcons mounted a counter-attack and chipped a goal over the head of Asher, putting Bowling Green ahead 3-1, a lead it would hold until the final whistle.

 
The loss is just the second for the Flames in Valley play this season, and runs UIC's record when surrendering the first goal of the match to 0-3 on the year.
 
UP NEXT
The Flames will play their final road match of the regular season this weekend, as they head to Peoria, Ill. on Sunday for a MVC matchup against Bradley. Kickoff from Shea Stadium is set for 1:00 p.m. CT, and the match can be seen live on ESPN+.
 
 
 
For more information, fans are encouraged to visit UICFlames.com, or follow the Flames on social media through X (@UIC_MSOC and @UICFlames) and Instagram (@uic_msoc and @uicflames).