CHICAGO – After picking up a win and a tie on a two-match swing through the north side of Chicago, UIC (3-0-1) returns home for three of its next four matches, starting at 2 p.m. (CT) Sunday when it welcomes one of its former Horizon League rivals, Wright State (0-3-1), to Flames Field. It will be "Back to School Day" for the UIC faithful, with fans having the chance to spin the legendary UIC Athletics marketing wheel (at the marketing table near the northwest gate off Morgan St.) for unique school-themed prizes. In addition, the first 100 students through the Flames Field gates (remember - UIC students, staff, and youths eighth grade and under get in free!) will receive a special UIC pen. It will also be another "Pups at the Pitch" promotion, with fans invited to bring their dogs to the match, provided they fill out an online waiver upon arrival at the facility.
MATCH #5
Wright State "Raiders" (0-3-1, 0-0-0 HL) at UIC "Flames" (3-0-1, 0-0-0 MVC)
When: Sunday, Sept. 7th | 2 p.m. CT
Where: Chicago, Ill. | Flames Field
Live Coverage: ESPN+ (Max Anderson, p-b-p) | Live Stats
Themes/Promotions: Back to School Day (spin the marketing wheel for a prize; first 100 students receive UIC pens) | Pups at the Pitch
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
Sunday will mark the 40th all-time meeting between UIC and Wright State, with the Flames holding a 20-13-6 series lead against the Raiders. UIC has won the past four matches against WSU (and is unbeaten in its last five series contests), with their most recent encounter coming in the Flames' final Horizon League season, a 3-2 UIC victory on Oct. 13, 2021, at Flames Field. Speaking of UIC's pitch, when the series shifts to the Windy City, the Flames are 13-6-1 all-time against the Raiders and have won the past two times the programs have squared off in Chicago.
LAST TIME OUT
UIC junior Edouard Nys scored his team- and Missouri Valley Conference-leading fourth goal of the season midway through the second half, but DePaul equalized with less than six minutes to play as the Flames and Blue Demons split the points after a hard-fought and gritty 1-1 tie on Thursday afternoon at Wish Field in Lincoln Park. The result kept UIC's record unblemished through the first four matches this season and gave the Flames their first point against DePaul since 2021.
After knocking on the door for much of the first half and into the early stages of the second half, Nys put UIC in front in the 66th minute, latching on to a throw-in from Darien Martin in the left channel 30 yards from goal before blasting a low curling shot that snaked through traffic and found its way inside the far right post.
Senior goalkeeper Owen Cornell kept the Flames in front throughout the latter stages of the match with five of his career-high six saves. However, DePaul managed to level the score on Keagan Pace's transition score with 5:38 left.
UIC AMONG THE NCAA STATISTICAL LEADERS
Thanks in part to its early-season offensive prowess, UIC ranks among the top 20 in the nation in nine different statistical categories following Thursday's match at DePaul. The Flames are fourth in both shots per game (21.00) and shots on goal per game (9.50), fifth in total assists (14), seventh in assists per game (3.50) and total points (36), 10th in total goals (11), 11th in points per game (9.00), 13th in goal differential (+7.00) and 17th in scoring offense (2.75 goals/game).
Individually, UIC players are littered throughout the top 10 in the NCAA in numerous categories. Edouard Nys is second in shots on goal per game (2.75), fourth in shots per game (5.25), fifth in total goals (5) and seventh in total points (9) — and just outside the top 10 in goals per game (11th - 1.00). Meanwhile, Carlos Nevarez is second in total assists (4) and fourth in assists per game (1.00), while Rui Reis is third in shots per game (5.50).
UP NEXT: WESTERN ILLINOIS
The Flames continue their two-match homestand Thursday with a 7 p.m. (CT) kickoff against Western Illinois at Flames Field. The two programs, who had been rivals in old Mid-Continent Conference (now Summit League), will be meeting for just the second time since 2012 and first in six seasons. Thursday's match will be UIC Campus Community Night, with all members of the UIC campus community (students, faculty and staff) admitted free of charge. In addition, the UIC players will be signing autographs at pitch side for Flames supporters following the match.
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
