CHICAGO – For the final time in the 2026 regular season, UIC will square off with a non-conference opponent, as the Flames renew acquaintances with fellow Chicagoland school Saint Xavier on Saturday in a 7 p.m. (CT) match at Flames Field. ESPN+ is poised to broadcast the match live with Andres Tejada describing the action, while live stats will be provided at UICFlames.com. 

All UIC home matches are free to attend for UIC students, staff and youths in eighth grade and under, while tickets for adults and non-students (in ninth grade and above) can be purchased at the gate on match day, and discounted tickets for groups of 10 or more adults.

MATCH #11
Saint Xavier "Cougars" (5-7-1, 1-2-1 CCAC) at UIC "Flames" (3-4-3, 1-0-1 MVC)
When: Saturday, Oct. 10th  |  7 p.m. CT
Where: Chicago, Ill.  |  Flames Field
Live Coverage: ESPN+  |  Live Stats
Tickets: Free for UIC students, staff and youths 8th grade and under; adults and youths 9th grade and older are $5 each; discounted tickets ($3 each) for groups of 10 or more adults.

SERIES NOTES
Although separated by less than 20 miles, UIC and Saint Xavier will be playing for just the third time ever on the soccer pitch and the first in more than 35 years. The Flames won both prior matches with the Cougars, prevailing 3-0 on Oct. 20, 1990, at SXU, and by an 8-0 score on Sept. 18, 1991, at Flames Field.

CHICAGO CONNECTIONS
Saturday is the last contest this season for UIC against a Chicagoland opponent, with all three coming at home. The Flames are 1-1 this year (1-0 win over Loyola, 5-2 loss to Northwestern), and had their Sept. 3 contest at home vs. DePaul postponed. UIC is unbeaten (5-1-1) in six of its last seven contests against city rivals.

LAST TIME OUT: WESTERN MICHIGAN
Junior midfielder Martin Montoya netted his team-leading fifth goal of the season and graduate student goalkeeper Owen Cornell tied his career high with seven saves, including a stop on a penalty kick, as the UIC men's soccer team played to a 1-1 draw at Western Michigan in Missouri Valley Conference action on Oct. 3 at the WMU Soccer Complex. The Flames are now unbeaten in five of their last six matches and secured their first road point in Kalamazoo since 2019.

In a physical, evenly-played match from start to finish, UIC grabbed the lead in the 47th minute when sophomore forward Antonio Delgado got behind the Broncos' defense with a run down the right channel. His well-weighted cross through the six-yard box connected with an onrushing Montoya, who slotted home his shot from close range.

WMU had a chance to draw level at the 61-minute mark after a VAR review confirmed a handball and gave Vitor Geromel a penalty kick opportunity. However, Cornell read the attempt perfectly, diving to his right and tipping the shot wide of the left post.

A bit more than six minutes later, the Broncos did find the equalizer on a long-range shot by Braden Stevanovic that snaked through traffic low into the net.

WMU finished with a slim 20-19 edge in total shots, while the teams were even in shots on goal (8-8). The Broncos also had a 10-6 advantage on corner kicks.

A PRICELESS POINT
At No. 13 in the United Soccer Coaches poll coming into its Sept. 29 draw at UIC, 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 of any kind against a Top 25 team since Sept. 3, 2021 (2-2 double-overtime draw at No. 16 Saint Louis). In addition, UIC captured its second-ever point against a current 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 10 matches this season, UIC has had the upper hand for large portions of each contest, making its 3-4-3 record quite deceiving. In fact, the Flames have outshot their opponents by nearly a 2-to-1 margin (197-109), including similar spreads in shots on goal (88-49) and on corner kicks (78-43).

NCAA RANKINGS
UIC ranks second in the nation in both shots per match (19.7; NJIT is first at 19.73) and shots on goal per match (8.8; defending national champion Washington is first at 9.27), as well as sixth in corner kicks per match (7.8). Individually, Sebastian Khoury is fifth nationally in shots on goal per match (2.1) and sixth in shot accuracy (.700).

UP NEXT: BELMONT
The Flames turn their attention back to their Missouri Valley Conference schedule for the final four matches of the regular season, beginning next Saturday (Oct. 17) when they travel to Nashville for the third time in the past two seasons to take on Belmont at E.S. Rose Park. Kickoff time is set for 6 p.m. (CT), with ESPN+ set to broadcast the match and live stats available 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).

 
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