DES MOINES, Iowa (Oct. 16, 2024) – Three games remain for UIC in the 2024 regular season and the Flames currently stand second on the MVC table with 14 points. UIC winds up its two-game road trip Thursday with a 2 p.m. (CT) contest at Drake, with the matchup to air live on ESPN+.

MATCH INFORMATION
UIC "Flames" (5-8-2, 4-1-2 MVC) at Drake "Bulldogs" (4-6-5, 3-2-1 MVC)
Thursday, Oct. 17 | 2 p.m. CT
Mediacom Stadium | Des Moines, Iowa
ESPN+
Live Stats

LAST TIME OUT
Madison Ferris and Elizabeth Weinberg both found the back of the net for UIC, but it wasn't enough as the Flames saw their school record-tying six-game unbeaten streak end with a 5-2 loss at conference leader Missouri State on Sunday. The scores by Ferris and Weinberg were the first for UIC in three all-time series meetings with Missouri State.

FERRIS IS MVC DEFENDER OF THE WEEK
Redshirt junior Madison Ferris was named the MVC Defender of the Week on Tuesday after scoring two goals and contributing to two shutouts in a 2-1 week for UIC. Ferris is the second Flames' player to earn a weekly conference award this year, following classmate Riley Collett, who was the MVC Player of the Week on Sept. 24.

SCOUTING DRAKE
Drake enters Thursday's matinee with a 4-6-5 record, including a 3-2-1 mark (10 points) in the Valley, good for a tie for fourth place with Belmont on the league table. The Bulldogs are unbeaten in four of their last five contests (3-1-1), most recently defeating Belmont, 1-0 on Sunday afternoon in Des Moines. Freshman defender Izzy Snowden came up with the lone score for Drake, the first of her career.

Junior forward Eve Blakey leads a balanced Bulldog offense with four goals and 10 points, while junior forward Layla Kelbel, sophomore midfielder Angela Gutierrez and freshman forward Isabella Balsley have each netted three scores. Sophomore defender Zoey Mahoney also adds a team-high three assists for Drake. Sophomore Addie Ford has been the Bulldogs' primary goalkeeper this season, posting 1.70 goals-against average with a .656 save percentage and a combined shutout.

Thursday will mark the sixth matchup between UIC and Drake, with the Bulldogs owning a slim 3-2 edge in the all-time series, although the Flames have won both regular-season contests since joining the Valley in 2022. The two sides met twice last year, with UIC winning the regular-season encounter, 3-1, at Flames Field (behind a goal and an assist from current sophomore midfielder Emmy Higgins), before Drake prevailed in the rematch in the MVC Tournament semifinals, 2-1 in Des Moines (despite a goal from current junior midfielder Makenna Maloy).

SUPPORT YOUR FLAMES
Fans are strongly encouraged to support NIL opportunities for UIC scholar-athletes through contributions to The Chicago Collective.
 
FOLLOW THE FLAMES
For more information on UIC women's 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).