KALAMAZOO, Mich. – UIC men's soccer returns to the road for the first time since late August as the Flames step back into Missouri Valley Conference action on Saturday with a 6 p.m. (CT) match at Western Michigan. Both teams opened conference play last weekend with victories (UIC 4-2 over Bradley; defending conference tournament champion WMU 1-0 over Bowling Green), and this Saturday's contest will be broadcast live on the Broncos' YouTube Channel, while live stats can be accessed at UICFlames.com.

MATCH #10
UIC "Flames" (3-4-2, 1-0-0 MVC) at Western Michigan "Broncos" (2-6-2, 1-0-0 MVC)
When: Saturday, Oct. 3rd  |  6 p.m. CT
Where: Kalamazoo, Mich.  |  WMU Soccer Complex
Live Coverage: YouTube  |  Live Stats

SERIES NOTES
Few series in UIC men's soccer history have been as evenly played as the Flames' rivalry with Western Michigan, which is tied 7-7-1, including a 3-3 record in Kalamazoo — WMU has won two of three since both teams began playing annually as MVC members. UIC claimed last year's match at Flames Field, 2-1 on Nov. 5, 2025, on a goal by future MLS SuperDraft pick (and 2026 North Texas SC Most Valuable Player) Edouard Nys with exactly one minute to play. The teams last played in Kalamazoo on Nov. 6, 2024, with the Broncos prevailing by the same 2-1 score on a goal with 9:11 remaining after current senior midfielder Darrell Turcios had brought the Flames level with a 75th-minute goal. UIC last won at WMU on Sept. 28, 2019, earning a 4-3 OT decision over the Broncos on Edouardo Garcia's second goal of the match 8:47 into extra time.

GRINBLAT NAMED MVC PLAYER OF THE WEEK
UIC freshman midfielder Artem Grinblat is the latest member of the Flames' roster to capture Missouri Valley Conference honors, as he was named the MVC Player of the Week on Tuesday morning. Grinblat is the third UIC player in two weeks to be chosen for Valley accolades, joining senior defender Takeru Chiba (Defensive Player of the Week) and graduate student Owen Cornell (Goalkeeper of the Week), who were selected on Sept. 15. Grinblat is the first UIC freshman to garner a conference weekly award since the Flames joined the MVC in 2022, and the first to do so in any conference since Oct. 9, 2017, when rookie Peter Becht was the Horizon League Player of the Week.
 
Residing in Vernon Hills, Ill., Grinblat played a pivotal role in UIC's 4-2 win over Bradley on Sept. 25 at Flames Field in the MVC opener for both squads. The Flames freshman scored the first two goals of his career in the victory, putting UIC ahead for good with a penalty kick conversion in the 47th minute. He then scored what would prove to be the match-winning goal in the 72nd minute, becoming the first UIC freshman to score twice in a match since Nov. 10, 2018, when Josiah Ash netted a brace at Wright State in the Horizon League Tournament championship match, sending the Flames to their most recent NCAA Tournament appearance.

LAST TIME OUT: #13 NOTRE DAME
Junior midfielder Sebastian Khoury scored his third goal of the season in the 61st minute and UIC pushed No. 13 Notre Dame to the edge before settling for a 1-1 draw with the Fighting Irish on Tuesday night before an enthusiastic crowd of 611 fans at Flames Field.

Khoury's equalizer for UIC just past the hour mark came on a wicked left-footed shot from the top right of the penalty area following a pinpoint crossfield pass from junior midfielder Carlos Nevarez, who picked up his team-high fifth assist of the season. The score negated an 11th-minute tally by Notre Dame and nearly set the stage for match-winning strikes from either freshman midfielder (and newly-named Missouri Valley Conference Player of the Week) Artem Grinblat, whose 65th-minute shot was cleared off the line, and Nevarez himself, who rang the crossbar with a curling shot from the top left of the box in the 71st minute.

Playing against his former team, UIC graduate student goalkeeper Owen Cornell made four saves, including a big stop in the 73rd minute to keep scores level. UIC finished with a 20-16 edge in total shots, including a 9-5 spread in shots on goal, while corner kicks were even at 4-4.

A PRICELESS POINT
At No. 13 in the United Soccer Coaches poll coming into Tuesday's 1-1 draw, Notre Dame was the highest-ranked opponent UIC tied or defeated since Sept. 6, 2014 (0-0 vs. No. 7 Michigan State). It was also the Flames' first result against a Top 25 team of any kind since Sept. 3, 2021 (2-2 in double OT at No. 16 Saint Louis). In addition, UIC captured its second-ever point against an Atlantic Coast Conference school and first since Sept. 13, 2009 (1-1 in double OT at Louisville in the UofL Invitational).

ON THE FRONT FOOT
During all nine matches this season, UIC has had the upper hand for large portions of each contest, making its 3-4-2 record quite deceiving. In fact, the Flames have recorded almost as many shots on goal (80) as their opponents have total shots (89) to date. Overall, UIC has outshot its opponents by a 2-to-1 margin (178-89), including similar spreads in shots on goal (80-41) and on corner kicks (72-33).

NCAA RANKINGS
UIC ranks second in the nation in both shots per match (19.78; trailing only NJIT at 21.0) and shots on goal per match (8.89m, behind only defending national champion Washington at 9.7), as well as seventh in corner kicks per match (8.0; Washington leads at 8.9). Individually, Sebastian Khoury is fifth nationally in shots on goal per match (2.11) and ninth in shot accuracy (.679), while junior midfielder Carlos Nevarez is 12th in total assists (5) and 22nd in assists per match (0.56).

UP NEXT: SAINT XAVIER
UIC returns home and steps out of conference one final time this season when the Flames take on Chicagoland foe Saint Xavier for the first time in 35 years at 7 p.m. (CT) next Saturday (Oct. 10) at Flames Field. Tickets are still available for the match, which will also be carried live on ESPN+, with live stats at UICFlames.com.

FOLLOW THE FLAMES
Once again this season, 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 (Morgan St.) or southeast (Granderson Stadium home plate) entrances to Flames Field on match day. Discounted tickets for groups of 10+ adults, are on sale for $3 each. In addition, fans can buy the 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 2026-27 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