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WSOC semis vs Drake starting lineup
1
UIC UIC (6-8-5, 5-3-2)
2
Winner Drake Drake (13-3-3, 8-1-1)
UIC UIC
(6-8-5, 5-3-2)
1
Final
2
Drake Drake
(13-3-3, 8-1-1)
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
UIC UIC 1 0 1
Drake Drake 2 0 2

Game Recap: Women's Soccer |

Women’s Soccer Season Ends in Semifinal Round of MVC Championship

The No. 4 Flames fell to the No. 1 Bulldogs 2-1 Thursday night

DES MOINES, Iowa (Nov. 2, 2023) – The UIC women's soccer team's season came to an end after a hard-fought battle against top-seed Drake in the semifinals of the Missouri Valley Conference Championship as the Flames fell 2-1 to the Bulldogs on Thursday evening at Mediacom Stadium. A first-half goal from Makenna Maloy (Noblesville, Ind./Noblesville) kept the Flames within reach but ultimately wasn't enough for UIC to advance to the championship match.

COACH'S COMMENTS
"The environment was great; it was a remarkable experience being in the Missouri Valley Conference semifinal," said head coach David Nikolic. "It's how we finished the season that I can look upon and be very proud of. Day in and day out, our team came and worked hard and really pushed each other. They came together as we pushed into playoff contention. To get here and be in this situation, they did really well. I'm very proud of them and their effort, and the direction we're going as a program. It's a tough way to go out, but I'm excited for the future."
 
FIRST HALF
  • Minutes into the match, Drake took the early 1-0 lead off an Emma Nagel header via a corner kick.
  • Drake's Angela Gutierrez gave the Bulldogs the 2-0 lead 19 minutes in after the freshman midfielder found the back of the net.
  • The Bulldogs continued to press the Flames throughout the first half, but UIC goalkeeper Lauren Keiser (Santa Rosa Beach, Fla./South Walton) made crucial saves in the net.
   
  • Maloy put the Flames on the board at the 38-minute mark after rocketing a free kick to the back of the net from 35 yards out. UIC trailed 2-1 heading into the halftime intermission.
 
  • Seven Flames played all 45 minutes of the first half: Kieser, Riley Collett (Fond du Lac, Wis./Fond du Lac), Julia Thomson (Philadelphia, Pa./Springside Chestnut Hill Academy), Yulexi Diaz (Chicago, Ill., Eric Solorio Academy), Maloy, Hannah Gryzik (Elk Grove Village, Ill., Elk Grove) and Shelsea Rigby (Hillsborough, N.J., Hillsborough).
  • UIC and Drake both recorded seven shots during the first half of competition.
SECOND HALF
  • In the second half, UIC brought pressure on offense and outshot Drake 7-2 over the final 45 minutes of play.
  • The Flames attempted to even the score through numerous set pieces and attempted four corner kicks throughout the match.
  • Junior midfielder Katelyn Nardulli (Naperville, Ill./Xavier) had both shoulders squared to the net at the 80-minute mark, but Drake's goalkeeper, Addie Ford, was there just in time to stop the UIC attempt.
  • Collett and fellow sophomore Sophia Jaime (Valparaiso, Ind./Valparaiso) took shots on net until the final seconds, but were unable to score.
  • The Flames finished the 2023 season with a 6-8-5 record. UIC's six wins are the most from the program since 2019.

For more information on Flames soccer, fans are encouraged to visit UICFlames.com, or follow the Flames on social media through X (@UIC_WSOC and @UICFlames) and Instagram (@uic_wsoc and @uicflames).
 
#ChicagosCollegeTeam | #FireUpFlames
 
 
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