CHICAGO – The UIC men's soccer team wraps up its 2026 regular season on Wednesday, playing host to Missouri Valley Conference co-leader Bowling Green at 6 p.m. (CT) on Flames Field. While it has already clinched a berth in the upcoming MVC Tournament, UIC can boost its tournament seed with a positive result on Wednesday, possibly earning the right to host a quarterfinal match on Sunday. Wednesday's regular-season finale between the Flames and Falcons will air live on ESPN+, while live stats can be found 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 #15
Bowling Green "Falcons" (8-6-2, 4-1-0 MVC) at UIC "Flames" (4-6-4, 1-2-2 MVC)
When: Wednesday, Nov. 4th  |  6 p.m. CT
Where: Chicago, Ill.  |  Flames Field
Live Coverage: ESPN+  |  Live Stats
Promotions: Match sponsored by UI Health; Post-match Teddy Bear Toss (fans bringing a new, wrapped stuffed animal can toss them on the pitch at the PA announcer's cue - will be donated to pediatric patients at the University of Illinois Cancer Center on UIC's West Campus); fans bringing a stuffed animal for the Teddy Bear Toss will also receive a limited edition UIC Soccer Scarf (while supplies last).
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
UIC and Bowling Green have played just five times previously, with the past four of those coming since the Falcons joined the MVC as a men's soccer affiliate member prior to the 2023 season. BGSU is 3-1-1 all-time against UIC, although the Flames won the only prior matchup between the squads in Chicago, a 2-1 decision on Oct. 5, 2024. Last year, UIC and Bowling Green played to a 1-1 draw in northwest Ohio, with the Falcons scoring first in the 53rd minute and the Flames responding in the 70th minute (current senior midfielder Darrell Turcios picked up the assist on the equalizer). 

LAST TIME OUT: DRAKE
UIC was on the front foot for much of last Friday's Missouri Valley Conference match at Drake, but a wild end-to-end sequence in the final three minutes came out in the hosts favor as the Bulldogs snatched a 1-0 victory over the Flames at Mediacom Stadium.

Playing a man up for the final 46 minutes after a Drake red card, UIC had several good looks at breaking the ice, most notably 30 seconds apart in the 87th and 88th minutes on back-to-back shots by junior midfielders Sebastian Khoury and Carlos Nevarez, both of which required alert saves by the Drake keeper. Off the second shot, the Bulldogs drove an outlet just beyond the midfield stripe, where the Drake striker delivered a bicycle kick over the onrushing Flames' defense and into the vacated net.

UIC finished with an 8-6 edge in total shots, while Drake had a 5-2 margin in shots on goal. The Flames also earned a 5-3 advantage on corner kicks. 

READY, SET, DRAW
Finishing with a share of the spoils has become a regular occurrence for UIC in the past two seasons (2025-26), as the Flames have recorded nine draws in that time (five last year, four this season). By comparison, UIC had nine draws combined in the six prior seasons (2019-24), including none in 2024 and one apiece in 2019 and 2020 (the latter a COVID-abbreviated season rescheduled to the spring of 2021).

ON THE FRONT FOOT
During all 14 matches this season, UIC has had the upper hand for large portions of each contest, making its 4-6-4 record quite deceiving. In fact, the Flames have outshot their opponents by more than 100 (246-142), including similar spreads in shots on goal (112-67) and on corner kicks (96-56).

NCAA RANKINGS
UIC ranks second in the nation in shots on goal per match (8.0; defending national champion Washington is first at 8.5), third in shots per match (17.57; NJIT is first at 19.63), and 12th in corner kicks per match (6.86; Akron leads at 7.87). The Flames are also tops in the MVC and 42nd nationally in shot accuracy (.455). Individually, junior midfielder Sebastian Khoury is seventh nationally in shot accuracy (.634) and 10th in shots on goal per match (MVC-leading 1.86).

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).

UP NEXT: MVC TOURNAMENT QUARTERFINAL
UIC has already clinched a spot in the MVC Tournament, but its seed is dependent upon Wednesday's results around the conference. The Flames are locked into playing a quarterfinal match and can finish as high as the No. 3 seed — and that (or a No. 4 seed) would mean UIC hosts a quarterfinal, while a No. 5 or 6 seed means going on the road. If the Flames do host an MVC quarterfinal, it would be played at 7 p.m. (CT) Sunday at Flames Field. All Valley tournament contests will be broadcast live on ESPN+, with live stats for all UIC matches 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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