CEDAR FALLS, Iowa (Sept. 21, 2023) – The UIC women's soccer team (2-5-2, 1-1 MVC) dropped a hard fought contest against Northern Iowa (8-1-1, 1-1 MVC), falling to the Panthers 1-0 Thursday afternoon.
COACH'S COMMENTS
"It was a game of two halves, where the wind affected both teams as it blew from goal to goal, influencing how each team could create opportunities," said head coach
David Nikolic. "We generated those chances right from the start, and I was pleased with the work rate. In the second half, we had to adapt our shape to cope with their pressure, and I think we managed that well, considering all the factors. I'm content with the team's effort today, but we need to improve our clinical finishing in front of goal. This Sunday, we'll be honoring our seniors and alumni, and we aim to kick off that game with a similar level of intensity," he added.
FIRST HALF
- During the initial 45 minutes of play, the Flames created numerous scoring opportunities through set pieces. Sophomore Makenna Maloy (Noblesville, Ind./Noblesville), played a pivotal role in these attacks, proving to be a constant threat from both corner and free kicks.
- Just six minutes into the match, a Maloy corner kick found its way into the box, where Bella Baker (West Bend, Wis./West Bend) was well-positioned for a header, but it sailed too high.
- Emmy Higgins (Evansville, Ind./Castle), the Missouri Valley Conference Freshman of the Week, effectively controlled the midfield during the first half. She came close to scoring for the Flames, with her shot hitting the top crossbar.
- Strong defense from Shelsea Rigby (Hillsborough, N.J./Hillsborough) and Julia Thomson (Philadelphia, Pa./Springside Chestnut Hill Academy) in the backfield helped keep the Panthers off the scoreboard for the first half of action.
- The two teams locked in a scoreless draw heading into the halftime intermission.
SECOND HALF
- Northern Iowa intensified its aggression, finding the net with 30 minutes remaining in the contest to take the 1-0 lead.
- UNI attacked again minutes later, but Trish Georgiou (Gurnee, Ill./Warren Township) made a beautiful save, keeping the Flames within one.
- The Flames had a promising opportunity to score after being awarded a free kick with seven minutes left in the match. However, the Panthers' goalkeeper leaped into the air to make the save to maintain their lead.
FIRST TIMERS
- Goalkeeper Trish Georgiou started in net for the Flames. It was her first collegiate start of her career.
- Freshman Amina Marin (Park Ridge, Ill./Maine South) saw her first college action, totaling seven minutes.
UP NEXT
The Flames will return to Chicago on Sunday for a matchup against Drake. The contest will kick off at 1 p.m. at Flames Field. The match can be streamed on ESPN+, with live stats also available on UIC's website. Additionally, the team will be celebrating four seniors and alumni Sunday as part of its Senior Day and Alumni Day festivities.
Sunday's content will also be part of Flames Fest, presented by Xfinity. The three-day event runs from Friday through Sunday and is highlighted by the UIC Athletics Hall of Fame Class of 2023 induction ceremony Saturday along with home matches for women's soccer, men's soccer and volleyball. Head to UICFlames.com for the entire Flames Fest schedule.
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
