NASHVILLE  – Following one of the wildest offensive shootouts in UIC men's soccer history, the Flames return to Missouri Valley Conference play this weekend, traveling to Nashville, Tenn., on Sunday for a 1 p.m. (CT) matinee against Belmont at E.S. Rose Park. The match will be televised live on ESPN+ and live stats will be available at UICFlames.com.

MATCH #12
UIC "Flames" (7-1-3, 0-0-2 MVC) at Belmont "Bruins" (6-0-5, 1-0-1 MVC)
When: Sunday, Oct. 12th  |  1 p.m. CT
Where: Nashville, Tenn.  |  E.S. Rose Park
Live Coverage: ESPN+  |  Live Stats

SERIES NOTES
UIC and Belmont are set to meet for the 11th time in their series history, which began in 2013 and picked up steam when the two schools joined the Missouri Valley Conference prior to the 2022 season. The Flames hold a 7-2-1 edge all-time against the Bruins and are 4-0-1 when playing Belmont in Nashville. However, the Bruins prevailed in last year's meeting, 1-0 at Flames Field (Oct. 18, 2024), while UIC won the last time the teams played at E.S. Rose Park (2-0 on Sept. 16, 2023).
 
LAST TIME OUT
UIC played its highest scoring match in two decades, but couldn't quite convert on enough of its opportunities as the Flames saw their season-opening 10-match unbeaten streak end with a 5-4 non-conference loss to Marquette on Tuesday night at Valley Fields in Milwaukee. Junior midfielder Edouard Nys posted his third two-goal match of the season (giving him 11 goals for the campaign), while sophomore midfielder Sebastian Khoury posted a career-high three points (one goal, one assist) and junior midfielder Adrian Biaggi dished out a career-best two assists for UIC. Junior midfielder Darrell Turcios also came through with his fifth goal of the season, while redshirt sophomore midfielder Alan Alonso picked up his second assist of the year.

Tuesday's nine combined goals were the most scored in a match involving UIC in just over 20 years, dating back to an 8-1 Flames win over Centenary on Oct. 2, 2005. In an amazing twist, UIC had three other golden opportunities to add to their ledger on Tuesday at Marquette, but both of its penalty kick attempts were saved (in the 27th and 84th minutes), and Khoury's point blank tap-in goal off a perfect left-flank chip by redshirt junior defender Darien Martin in the 78th minute (a score that also could have tied the match at 5-5) was wiped out by an offside flag, a call that was subsequently upheld following video review.

This marked the seventh time in 11 matches this season UIC has scored three or more goals in a match, with the Flames' 29 goals for the year exceeding their total from all of the 2024 season. The Flames finished Tuesday's match with the upper hand in nearly every statistical category except the scoreboard, outshooting the Golden Eagles, 17-11 (10-6 in shots on goal) and winding up with an 8-6 edge on corner kicks. UIC did end up playing the final 5:16 one man down after junior defender Jacobo Cruz picked up his second yellow card of the night, resulting in a red card send-off.

POLL POSITION
For the third week in a row, UIC is appearing in the United Soccer Coaches West Region poll, currently standing at No. 8. The Flames are among a group of three MVC schools in the top 10 of this week's West Region rankings, with Drake at No. 6 and Belmont at No. 9.

UIC AMONG THE NCAA STATISTICAL LEADERS
As of Friday, UIC ranks among the top 10 nationally in eight NCAA statistical categories. The Flames are tops in the land in shots per game (21.36) and shots on goal per game (9.18), as well as third in total goals (29) and points (91), fifth in total assists (33), points per game (8.27) and assists per game (3.0), and sixth in scoring offense (2.64 goals/game).

Junior midfielder Edouard Nys leads the country in shots per game (5.45) and shots on goal per game (2.91), while standing second in total goals (11) and points (27), and fourth in goals per game (1.0) and points per game (2.45). Senior midfielder Rui Reis is fifth in shots per game (4.18), while sophomore midfielder Carlos Nevarez is No. 11 nationally in total assists (6) and assists per game (0.6).

NYS NAMED TO HERMANN TROPHY MIDSEASON WATCH LIST
UIC junior midfielder Edouard Nys is among 31 NCAA Division I players who have been selected for the 2025 Hermann Trophy Midseason Watch List, it was announced Friday by United Soccer Coaches. The Hermann Trophy is college soccer's most prestigious award, having been presented annually since 1967 to the nation's top player. Nys is the first UIC player to be named to the Hermann Trophy Watch List since Jesus Perez in 2019.
 
A native of Dottignies, Belgium, Nys not only ranks among the top five in the country in six different NCAA statistical categories (see above note), but his 11 goals and 27 points are also just outside the top five on the UIC single-season lists. In addition, he currently has the most goals by a UIC player since 2018 (Max Todd - 12) and most points by a Flame since 2002 (Dennis King - 27).
 
Nys is the only Missouri Valley Conference player on this year's Hermann Trophy Midseason Watch List. The MVC has had two players (none from current Valley member schools) receive the Hermann Trophy during its history — Creighton's Johnny Torres (1997) and SMU's Luchi Gonzalez (2001).

CHICAGO'S COLLEGE TEAM
The Flames finished 3-0-1 against Chicagoland opponents this season, defeating Northwestern (3-2) and Loyola (3-1) on the road, and Chicago State (2-0) at home, while tying 1-1 at DePaul. Collectively, the UIC men's soccer, women's soccer and volleyball programs went 7-0-2 against Windy City teams this fall, the best intracity record by any of Chicago's Division I schools.
 
UP NEXT: EVANSVILLE
UIC will play three of its final four regular-season matches at home (all against MVC opponents), beginning next Saturday, Oct. 18, when it welcomes Evansville to Flames Field for a 7 p.m. (CT) kickoff. It will be Senior Night and Alumni Night at UIC, highlighted by a pregame ceremony (starting just after 6 p.m. CT) to honor this year's UIC senior class and a halftime recognition of the more than 60 UIC alums who will be in attendance at Saturday's match, including members of the Flames' 2000 NCAA Sweet Sixteen team and their 2015 Horizon League championship squad. Along with these celebrations, it will also be the second of UIC's soccer scarf giveaways, with fans able to get one of the signature Flames' scarves while supplies last. On the off chance fans can't make it to next Saturday's match, ESPN+ will broadcast the contest and live stats will be available at UICFlames.com.
 
FOLLOW THE FLAMES
UIC students, staff and youths in eighth grade and under are admitted to all soccer matches free of charge, while adults and youths in ninth grade and above can purchase tickets for $5 each at the northwest entrance to Flames Field (off Morgan St.) on match night. Discounted tickets for military veterans, first responders and groups of 10+ adults, are on sale for $3 each. In addition, fans can buy the new Flames Fast Pass, a one-time $50 purchase that will provide the bearer with access to all UIC home athletics events (except men's and women's basketball) during the 2025-26 academic year.
 
For more information on UIC men's soccer, 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).

 
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