CHICAGO (Sept. 30, 2023) – The 20^th ranked UIC men's soccer team played its second consecutive home match Saturday night, as it welcomed Western Michigan to Flames Field for a 7:00 p.m. kickoff.
 
In a very tight defensive affair, the Flames struggled to find their offensive rhythm, not registering their first shot on goal until the 57^th minute, just one minute after the opening goal of the match was scored on a Broncos counter-attack. UIC was unable to equalize in the final 30 minutes of the second half and was handed its first home defeat of the season by a 1-0 final score.
 
COACH'S COMMENTS
"Give a lot of credit to Western Michigan tonight," said head coach Sean Phillips. "They took us out of our rhythm in the first half and were very efficient with the chances they did get. I thought we created enough chances in the second half to find an equalizer, but they did a good job of being in the right places to block shots and keep us on the perimeter."
 
FIRST HALF

• The first 45 minutes of the match were played mainly in the UIC defensive end, as the Broncos out-shot the Flames 4-1 in the first half.
• Oren Asher (Hetzliya, Israel/Rutgers) made a crucial save late in the first half to keep the match scoreless as the teams headed to the locker room 0-0.

 
SECOND HALF

• The Broncos defense remained stifling early in the second half, as they forced UIC into a turnover in its own end, which Western Michigan was able to turn into the opening goal of the match in the 56^th minute.
• UIC ratcheted up the offensive pressure following the Broncos' opening goal, as the Flames out-shot Western Michigan 13-5 in the second half.
• Despite a late red card to Western Michiga's Landon Fisher in the 78^th minute, the Broncos were able to hold on and keep the Flames off the scoreboard for the first time this season, winning by a final score of 1-0.

 
UP NEXT
The Flames head back on the road this week, as they will play their penultimate non-conference match of the season Wednesday afternoon at DePaul. Kickoff from Wish Field is set for 2:00 p.m. CT.
 
 
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).