KALAMAZOO, Mich. (Nov. 8, 2023) – The third-seeded UIC men's soccer team competed in its first-ever Missouri Valley Conference semifinal Wednesday morning, as the Flames took on the second-seed Missouri State at the WMU Soccer Complex in Kalamazoo. On a cold, overcast morning, the Bears struck early on in the match, and the Flames were unable to equalize, dropping the contest by a final score of 1-0.
 
FIRST HALF

• The Bears started strong after the opening kickoff, as Missouri State sent the first shot on goal just 20 seconds into the match, but Oren Asher (Hetzliya, Israel/Rutgers) had no trouble turning it aside.
• The second shot on goal for Missouri State found its way past Asher, as Missouri Valley Conference Second Team member Gijs Hovius netted his sixth goal of the season to put the Bears ahead 1-0 in the tenth minute.
• The Flames earned their second penalty kick in as many matches in the 26^th minute, as Joshua Torres (Chicago, Ill./St. Patrick) was hauled down in the box. Bart Muns (Amsterdam, Netherlands/Santa Barbara CC) stepped up to the spot after the penalty kick was confirmed by official review, but his strong attempt to the bottom right corner of the net was turned aside by a diving Jonathan Kliewer to keep the Bears ahead by one.
• UIC continued the attack after being denied from the spot, as Sidney Warden (London, England/Mercyhurst) sent a strong right-footed shot just past the left post in the 37^th minute.
• As the rain began to fall late in the second half, the Flames entered the locker room still trailing 1-0.

 
SECOND HALF

• UIC tallied the first shot of the second half, an off-target effort from Jesus De Vicente (Casas Bajas, Spain/Iowa Western CC) as the Flames drove to try to find an equalizer.
• The Flames' best chance of the second half came in the 72^nd minute, as a De Vicente cross pulled Kliewer out of his net, but the ball dribbled past the foot of Torres and out of the box.
• On a quick counterattack, Asher turned aside a shot from Jack Denton to keep the Bears ahead by only one in the 75^th minute.

 

75'

A crucial save from Oren Asher to keep the match where it is!

UIC 0
MSU 1

?? https://t.co/7CGt9g5ZDG
?? https://t.co/5TIJnBOev6#FireUpFlames pic.twitter.com/LHNe7tAyl4

— UIC Men's Soccer (@UIC_MSOC) November 8, 2023

 

• Missouri State slowed down the pace of the match in the final 10 minutes, as the Flames attempted to put men forward, but could not find the equalizer, dropping the semifinal match by a final score of 1-0.

 
With the loss, the Flames are eliminated from competition in the Missouri Valley Conference Championship. UIC entered today's match ranked 34^th in the NCAA RPI, and remains in the conversation for an at-large bid to the NCAA Men's Soccer Championships. The 2023 NCAA Men's Soccer Selection Show is scheduled for Monday, Nov. 13 at 12 p.m. CT. on NCAA.com. Stay tuned to @UIC_MSOC on X for all of the latest information.

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).