CHICAGO – The challenges don't stop for the UIC men's soccer team, as the Flames face their next test (and one of their toughest of the season to date) on Friday when they play host to Drake at 7 p.m. (CT) at Flames Field. UIC and Drake are two of the three remaining unbeaten squads in the Missouri Valley Conference this season, and both teams are coming off 1-1 ties in their conference openers last weekend. Friday's match will be televised live on ESPN+, with live stats also available through UICFlames.com.
MATCH #10
Drake "Bulldogs" (5-0-4, 0-0-1 MVC) at UIC "Flames" (7-0-2, 0-0-1 MVC)
When: Friday, Oct. 3rd | 7 p.m. CT
Where: Chicago, Ill. | Flames Field
Live Coverage: ESPN+ (Peter Ferreri, p-b-p) | Live Stats
Themes/Promotions: Free UIC Flames t-shirts to all fans
Tickets
• UIC students/staff/youths eighth grade and under - free
• Adults/youths ninth grade and older - $5 each
• Military veterans/first responders/groups of 10+ adults - $3 each
SERIES NOTES
Friday's matchup will be the 13th all-time meeting between UIC and Drake, with the series knotted at 6-6 after the Bulldogs edged the Flames, 1-0 last year in Des Moines in a physical encounter that features nine yellow cards and a pair of red cards between the two sides (who finished the match 10-v-10). When the schools have met in Chicago, UIC holds a 4-2 series lead over Drake, including a 4-0 win the last time they played on Flames Field (Sept. 23, 2023).
LAST TIME OUT
UIC junior midfielder Edouard Nys scored his ninth goal of the season as the Flames remained unbeaten during the 2025 season with a 1-1 draw at Bradley on Sept. 27 in the Missouri Valley Conference opener for both teams at Shea Stadium in Peoria, Ill. Nys connected on a low shot inside the right post in the 58th minute to maintain his place atop the MVC scoring chart (as well as a spot in the top five nationally), with his goal coming just 62 seconds after Bradley had taken the lead off a six-shot flurry in the penalty area, those attempts accounting for more than half the Braves' shots on the night. UIC had another golden opportunity earlier in the second half when redshirt sophomore midfielder Alan Alonso rang his shot hard off the crossbar in the 51st minute.
Aside from the brief shot/scoring flurry near the hour mark, senior goalkeeper Owen Cornell wasn't tested often, making one save as the Flames extended their unbeaten streak against Bradley to nine matches. UIC outshot the Braves, 14-11 and held a 7-2 edge in shots on goal.
A HOT START
At 7-0-2, UIC is off to its best start to a season since 2008, when it also opened 7-0-2 en route to a trip to the NCAA Sweet Sixteen and a Horizon League title. It's also just the third time in the program's 45 NCAA Division I seasons (1981-present) the Flames have been undefeated entering the month of October — the others came in the aforementioned 2008 campaign, as well as in 1997 (opened 9-0-1).
Offensively, UIC has scored 25 goals in its first nine outings (2.78/game), the most goals for the Flames in a season-opening nine-match stretch in nearly 25 seasons (they netted 27 goals to open the 2001 season). What's more, UIC has scored at least three goals in six of its nine matches this year.
POLL POSITION
UIC is up to a season-best No. 6 in this week's United Soccer Coaches West Region poll. The Flames lead a group of three MVC schools in the top 10 of the latest West Region rankings, with Drake at No. 7 and Belmont at No. 9.
UIC AMONG THE NCAA STATISTICAL LEADERS
As the calendar turns to October, UIC remains front and center in the top 10 of nine NCAA statistical categories, according to the latest national report issued Thursday. The Flames are No. 1 in the country in shots per game (22.56) and shots on goal per game (9.67), fifth in total assists (29), total points (79), assists per game (3.22) and points per game (8.78), as well as seventh in scoring offense (2.78 goals/game), eighth in total goals (25) and ninth in goal differential (+16).
Among the individual rankings, UIC junior midfielder Edouard Nys leads the country in shots per game (5.44) and shots on goal per game (2.78), is third in total goals (9), total points (23) and points per game (2.56) and fourth in goals per game (1.0). Sophomore midfielder Carlos Nevarez is fourth nationally in both total assists (6) and assists per game (0.67), while senior midfielder Rui Reis is sixth in shots per game (4.22).
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: MARQUETTE
UIC will step out of conference play one final time during the regular season when the Flames hit the road Tuesday for a 7 p.m. (CT) match at Marquette. ESPN+ will broadcast the match live from Valley Fields in Milwaukee, with live stats also 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).
#FireUpFlames | #ChicagosCollegeTeam
