CHICAGO – The UIC men's soccer team will kick off a five-match homestand at 7 p.m. (CT) Thursday when it plays host to Western Illinois at Flames Field. It will be the nightcap in a UIC-Western Illinois soccer doubleheader, with the Flames women taking on the Leathernecks in the opener at 4 p.m. (CT). Thursday will also mark UIC's annual Hispanic Heritage Night, with special concession offerings during both matches, as well as live themed performances at halftime. 

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 night, and discounted tickets for groups of 10 or more adults. ESPN+ will carry the match live with Conor Clingen on the call, while live stats can also be found at UICFlames.com. 

MATCH #5
Western Illinois "Leathernecks" (2-2-1, 0-0-0 OVC) at UIC "Flames" (0-3-1, 0-0-0 MVC)
When: Thursday, Sept. 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
The UIC-Western Illinois series has been an interesting one, currently level at 12-12-1. The Leathernecks had the upper hand early on, winning 12 of the first 13 meetings, before the Flames flipped the script and have gone unbeaten in their last 12 matches against WIU (11-0-1). UIC is also 9-6-1 all-time against Western Illinois at Flames Field, where the teams will be squaring off for the eighth consecutive series meeting.

Last year, the Flames and Leathernecks matched up for the first time in six years, with UIC prevailing in an offensive slugfest, 5-3 on Sept. 11, 2025, at Flames Field. Current UIC seniors Hector Gil and Darrell Turcios scored in the opening 20 minutes as the Flames raced out to a 5-1 lead before WIU pulled back a pair of late goals to moderate the final scoreline.  

A LATE START AT HOME
Thursday will mark the latest UIC has played its home opener in a fall season since 2005, when the Flames opened on Sept. 18 with a 1-0 victory against Eastern Illinois. 

LAST TIME OUT: NORTHERN ILLINOIS
Sophomore forward Antonio Delgado scored his first career goal in the 59th minute to draw UIC level, but Northern Illinois scored on its only shot on goal of the second half just 29 seconds later and that proved to be the difference in a 2-1 final on Aug. 30 at the NIU Soccer and Track & Field Complex in DeKalb, Ill.

Delgado scored after junior midfielder Sebastian Khoury saw his initial shot stopped as the Flames wiped out NIU's initial score that came just 81 seconds into the contest. UIC maintained constant pressure on the Huskies' back line throughout the night, finishing with an 18-10 edge in total shots, including a 12-3 margin in the second half. The tallies in the shots on goal department were even more lopsided, with the Flames putting 12 tries on frame, compared to only three for Northern Illinois (and UIC had a 9-1 shots on goal advantage in the second half alone). 

ON THE FRONT FOOT
Despite still seeking its first win of the season, UIC has had the upper hand for large portions of all four matches to date. Thus far, the Flames have outshot their opponents by nearly a 2-to-1 margin (69-35), including an even wider spread in shots on goal (37-15) and almost a 3-to-1 advantage on corner kicks (40-14).

PRESEASON HONORS
Senior midfielder Darrell Turcios (a second-team all-conference pick last year) was selected to the Preseason All-MVC Team via a vote of the Valley's seven head coaches, the conference announced Aug. 17. In addition, UIC was picked to finish fourth in the preseason coaches' balloting, earning 29 points to place behind Western Michigan (44 pts.), Drake (40 pts.) and Evansville (34 pts.).  

UP NEXT: LOYOLA
It's a quick turnaround for UIC as the Flames are back home Sunday night for a matchup with crosstown foe Loyola. Kickoff from Flames Field is set for 7 p.m. (CT) and the program's annual soccer scarf giveaway will be held following the match, along with player autographs as part of our Sparky's Kids Club match. ESPN+ will also broadcast Sunday's match live with Sam Brief calling the action, while live stats will also be provided through 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 night. 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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