Nashville, Tenn. – Opening Missouri Valley Conference play, the UIC women's soccer team traveled south to take on the Belmont Bruins. Sunday would belong to Belmont, as the Bruins (2-3-4, 1-0 MVC) found the back of the net five times compared to the Flames (1-6-2, 0-1 MVC) two.
Graduate student
Elyse DeSchryver scored her first goal as a Flame while freshman
Tenley McMenamy scored her first career goal during the match.
FIRST HALF
The Flames and Bruins kicked off conference play at E.S. Rose Park with a midfield battle before momentum shifted to the home team.
As both sides fought for possession, the Bruins capitalized on a free kick in the 26
th minute. Sending a cross into the 18-yard box, Reagan Ross headed the ball into the back of the net, giving the Bruins a 1-0 lead. Lillie Tabor and Kaitlyn Elliot earned the assists.
Jilly Higgins recorded the Flames' best opportunity of the half in the 44
th minute with a shot that went just wide of the post.
One minute later, the Bruins capitalized on another free kick. Receiving the ball in the box, Anna Samuel sent a lofted ball shot just between
Sidney Lazenby and the crossbar, giving the Bruins a 2-0 lead heading into halftime. Tabor was awarded the assist.
SECOND HALF
Belmont continued where they left off to start the second half, scoring in the 50
th minute with a header goal from Maggie Gawrych off a Tabor corner kick.
Tenley McMenamy placed a shot on frame in the 51
st minute that would be saved by Greta Genie.
The Bruins quickly added a fourth goal in the 52
nd minute as Makira Churchill scored an unassisted goal.
UIC scored its first conference goal of 2026 in the 58
th minute when
Elyse DeSchryver found the back of the net. With
Riley Cunningham taking on two Bruin defenders, she would create enough space to send a cross into the six-yard box. The Bruins goalkeeper would make a diving attempt to push the ball out, but sent the ball in the direction of DeSchryver, who placed a one-touch, right-footed shot into the back of the net to put the Flames on the board.
Belmont once again found the back of the net in the 72
nd minute when Meredith Koltz scored off a Corinne Baumgardner assist.
As the match was coming to a close, the Flames would be rewarded with a free-kick near the sideline over 30-yards out. McMenamy would take the kick for the Flames in the 86
th minute and sent a right-footed, lifted shot towards goal. The Bruins goalkeeper would get her hand on the ball, but it wouldn't be enough as the Flames scored their second of the match. The goal marked McMenamy's first of her career.
At the final whistle, the Flames fell to the Bruins 5-2.
The full box score and play-by-play recap can be found
here.
UP NEXT
The Flames will return to action on Sunday when they host the Illinois State Redbirds in a 2025 MVC Championship rematch. Kick-off is set for 4:00 p.m. CT on Flames Field.
Sunday will mark Alumnae Day for the Flames
FOLLOW THE FLAMES
For more information, fans are encouraged to visit
UICFlames.com, or follow the Flames on social media through X (
@UIC_WSOC and
@UICFlames) and Instagram (
@uic_wsoc and
@uicflames).
#ChicagosCollegeTeam
