CHICAGO – Fresh off a thrilling win at Northwestern on Monday night, the UIC men's soccer team continues its intracity road swing on Thursday with a 4 p.m. (CT) match at DePaul. Thursday's contest is the nightcap of a UIC-DePaul soccer doubleheader, with the Flames' women meeting their Blue Demon counterparts in the opener at 12:30 p.m. (CT), also at Wish Field. Both UIC-DePaul soccer matches on Thursday will be televised live throughout much of the Midwest on Marquee Sports Network (also the regional sports home of Major League Baseball's Chicago Cubs).
MATCH #4
UIC "Flames" (3-0-0, 0-0-0 MVC) at DePaul "Blue Demons" (1-0-3, 0-0-0 BIG EAST)
When: Thursday, Sept. 4th | 4 p.m. CT
Where: Chicago, Ill. | Wish Field
Live Coverage: Marquee Sports Network | Live Stats
SERIES NOTES
Thursday will mark the 36th all-time meeting between UIC and DePaul, with the Flames maintaining an 18-15-2 series edge over the Blue Demons, although DePaul has won the past three meetings including last year's wild 4-3 opening-night decision at Flames Field. UIC is 6-9-1 all-time against the Blue Demons when playing in Lincoln Park, with the Flames seeking their first win over DePaul at any venue since Sept. 15, 2021 (a 1-0 victory at Wish Field).
One other item of note — in the past 13 series matches between UIC and DePaul since the series' lone scoreless draw (Aug. 30, 2006, at Flames Field), one or both schools have scored multiple goals in 11 of those contests, including one team with at least three goals in four of the past five (and six of the past eight) meetings.
LAST TIME OUT
Darrell Turcios scored his second goal of the night with 6:50 remaining to lift the Flames to a 3-2 win over Northwestern on Monday evening inside Northwestern Medicine Field at Martin Stadium in Evanston, Ill. It was UIC's first road victory over a Big Ten Conference opponent since Oct. 11, 2016, when it also posted a win at Northwestern (2-0), and UIC's second win against a Big Ten team in the past three seasons (2-0 vs. Wisconsin at Flames Field on Sept. 4, 2023).
Turcios, who also scored in the 53rd minute off a Rui Reis assist to give the Flames a 2-0 lead, registered the first multi-goal outing of his career. Junior Edouard Nys opened the UIC scoring in the 24th minute with his third goal of the season to cap off a 13-pass sequence with Sota Nakazono and Carlos Nevarez earning the assists. It would be the first of two assists for Nevarez, who also set up Turcios' deciding goal in the 84th minute.
UIC finished with a 15-9 edge in total shots, including a 7-3 margin in shots on goal. Senior Owen Cornell was credited with one save in the Flames' goal to earn his second career win.
ONE HOT START
For the first time since 2003, UIC has won its first three matches of the season, toppling Air Force, Eastern Illinois and Northwestern by a combined 10-3 margin. The 10 goals scored by the Flames are also the most for UIC in its first three matches since the program elevated to NCAA Division I status in 1981.
CALL IT THE WINDY CITY CLASSIC
UIC is in the midst of a stretch in which it plays four of six matches against Chicagoland opponents, starting with this week's road swing to Northwestern and DePaul. The Flames will also visit Loyola on Sept. 15 and close out their pre-conference schedule three nights later against Chicago State at Flames Field.
UP NEXT: WRIGHT STATE
UIC returns home for a pair of matches beginning Sunday with a 2 p.m. (CT) against former Horizon League rival Wright State at Flames Field. It will be Back To School Day and Pups at the Pitch, with fans able to spin the special marketing wheel for unique school-themed prizes and the first 100 students in attendance will receive special UIC pens. Sunday's match will also be televised live on ESPN+.
FOLLOW THE FLAMES
UIC students, staff and youths in eighth grade and under are admitted to all home 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 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
