UIC Athletics

Years: 1994

Inducted: 2000

The 1994 UIC softball team is the measuring stick for all Flames softball squads. The team compiled a record of 56-19-1 en route to the first trip in UIC's history to the Softball World Series. They went undefeated in conference with a record of 17-0 to claim the Mid-Continent Conference title. They defeated Northern Illinois to capture the MCC Tournament title and advance to the NCAA Regionals, where they defeated Big Ten champions Indiana 7-3 to advance to the World Series.

MCC Coach of the Year Mike McGovern remembers a pivotal moment for the Flames. "Probably the most dramatic moment was Sue North's two-run homer to beat Indiana and move on to the World Series."

The Flames finished the regular season 19th in the national polls.

Team Members: Jennifer Banas, Robin Budz, Kerry Coudry, Lynn Curylo, Donna DiBiase, Andrea DiGrazia, Karen DiGrazia, Julie Frain, Lindsey Hackett, Debbie Hedberg, Cathleen Kennedy, Missy Kies, Brandi Martel, Jacki Meyer, Destiny Mollison, Sue North, Sarah O'Malley, Diane Oswald, Kindra Phelps, Julie Sewell, Kerri Tanksley, Adrienne Zeller

Sport: Softball 

Years: 2001-2005

Inducted: 2010

Astiazaran enjoyed a stellar career at UIC, leaving her name all over the softball record book. Perhaps no athlete in school history had a better senior season than Astiazaran. In 2005, she batted .481 with 17 home runs, 27 doubles and 54 RBIs. Her 27 doubles in one season was the third best in NCAA history and her career total of 67 two-baggers ranked eighth most in NCAA history.

For that tremendous season, she walked away with the Horizon League Player of the Year award. She was also First Team Louisville Slugger/NFCA All-American and First Team ESPN The Magazine Academic All-American. In doing so she was the only Division I softball player to earn both athletics and academic First-Team All-American honors and was the first player in UIC history to earn First Team All-American honors.

Sport: Softball

Years: 1995-1998

Inducted: 2017

A 1995 All-Region First Team selection, Charbonneau was a standout for the Flames. She batted above .300 in each of her four seasons at UIC, with a career-high batting average of .345 during her freshman campaign. With her offensive production and stellar play in the corner of the diamond, she earned All-Conference honors every season, including three First Team recognitions, becoming one of eight former Flames to reach the feat.

At the conclusion of her career, Charbonneau moved into the elite category of UIC players who have engrained their names in the NCAA record book as her 264 at-bats in 1997 rank second in single-season history and her 889 career at-bats places her 10th in the category. In the UIC record book, she ranks in the top 10 in nine career categories (games, at-bats, runs scored, hits, RBI, doubles, stolen bases, walks, total bases) and five single-season lists (games, at-bats, hits, doubles, stolen bases).

Sport: Softball

Years: 1998-2001

Inducted: 2009

A four-year letterwinner as the Flames' catcher from 1998-2001, Christoferson is one of the most prolific players in UIC's storied softball history. As a two-time conference Player of the Year (2000,2001), Christoferson earned a trio of all-region honors after guiding the Flames to the NCAA postseason every year of her career. As a senior, she led the nation with 24 doubles.

Christoferson earned third team All-American honors to conclude he Flames career. She left an indelible mark not just in the UIC record book but in the NCAA record book as well. Her 180 runs scored, 312 hits and 37 home runs put her near the top of the record book for the Flames and her 304 appearances established the NCAA record.

Sport: Softball

Years: 2006-2009

Inducted: 2015

During her time at UIC, Clynes was a powerhouse on the mound and at the plate. Winning Horizon League Player of the Year twice and Horizon Newcomer of the Year, she also collected three All-Conference First Team and two All-Region First Team accolades. On the mound, Clynes holds career top-ten records for the Flames in wins, saves, complete games, shutouts, appearances, innings pitched and strikeouts, in addition to throwing two no-hitters. At the plate, Clynes ranks in the top ten all-time for batting average, runs scored, hits, doubles, home runs, total bases and walks.

Sport: Softball

Years: 1997-2000

Inducted: 2006

Luli is the most decorated pitcher in UIC softball history. The two-time NFCA/Louisville Slugger All-American (1998, 1999) and three-time Midwestern Collegiate Conference Pitcher of the Year (1998, 1999, 2000) set the Flames' all-time leader in wins (111), saves (11), strikeouts (1,111), complete games (121), shutouts (60), appearances (171), and innings pitched (979.2). Luli tossed six no-hitters during her career, including a perfect game in the second round of the 2000 NCAA Regional Championships versus Central Michigan. Iuli was also a dominant hitter, as she set UIC's career mark in RBI with 214 while ranking third in home runs with 33. The California native earned MCC Player of the Year recognition in both 1998 and 1999. Luli helped the Flames to four straight conference titles and three NCAA Regional appearances during her career.

Sport: Softball

Years: 1999-2003

Inducted: 2011

Leyden rewrote the record book during her career at UIC. She played in 288 games (10th in NCAA history), hit a UIC best .371 batting average with 333 hits, scoring 243 times (also 10th in NCAA history). She was a First Team All-Conference all four years, Second Team All-Region her first year and First Team All-Region her junior and senior seasons. Her biggest honor was being selected Third Team All-American award her senior year.

Sport: Softball

Years: 1988-1991

Inducted: 1994

As a senior, MacCartney-Koscik batted a team-leading .374 and led the Flames to its first-ever North Star Conference regular season and tournament championship. Her 139 at bats, 19 runs and 25 RBI's led the team and she was named to the North Star All-Conference squad as a catcher.

MacCartney-Koscik served as the Flames captain for three seasons and after her career concluded she was the leader in hits (190), doubles (31), games played (191) and at bats (580). One of MacCartney-Koscik's favorite memories was winning the North Star Conference Championship in 1991 after deafeating Northern Illinois.

Sport: Softball Coach

Years: 1990-2001

Inducted: 2006

McGovern took the UIC softball program to unprecedented heights during his tenure as head coach, racking up 583 wins and a .722 winning percentage in 12 seasons. McGovern built the Flames into a nationally competitive program, collecting eight league titles, making six NCAA Regional appearances and taking the 1994 squad to the College World Series.

UIC was the NCAA's eighth-winningest softball program of the 1990s, and enjoyed a national ranking as high as No. 10 during the 1999 campaign that saw the Flames tie the national record for wins in a season with 67. McGovern joined the UIC faculty in 1965. He served as a coach for both the football and men's volleyball programs during his tenure while also serving as an assistant professor in the Kinesiology program.

Sport: Basketball, Softball

Years: 1977-1978

Inducted: 1991

Toni (Stachon) Paolini was a member of the 1977-1978 women's basketball team that went 16-6. As team captain in her final season, Paolini led the squad in assists with 105 and averaged 14.6 points per game. Paolini finished her career with 1,071 points and 633 rebounds. During her sophomore year, Paolini recorded 390 points and 262 rebounds and was invited to tryout for the 1976 U.S. Olympic team. On the softball field playing shortstop, she belted three home runs in the 1977 season. After UIC, Paolini continued her basketball career with the Chicago Hustle and the Minnesota Fillies of the Women's Professional Basketball League.

Sport: Softball

Years: 1989-1992

Inducted: 1997

Podlesny re-wrote the Flames' softball record book for pitchers during her four-year career. She was at the top of the list for wins (83), saves (4), complete games (102), shutouts (6), total appearances (134), innings pitched (805), and strikeouts (654). As a junior, she led UIC to a first-place finish in the North Star Conference, was voted the conference's Defensive Most Valuable Player and earned a repeat spot on the all-conference squad.

"Her performance literally helped plant the early seed for the UIC softball program," said former head coach Mike McGovern. "UIC softball has become a perennial success and she can be proud of that."

Sport: Softball

Years: 2000-2004

Inducted: 2013

Rivera was a dominating presence at the plate for the Flames and left her legacy on the pages of not just the UIC record book but the Horizon League as well. She put up 52 home runs over her career, placing her on top of UIC and the Horizon League in that category. Rivera also was second on UIC's all-time list with 193 RBI's and 125 base on balls.

Rivera was recognized by the NCAA each of her four seasons, being named first team All-Region. During her freshman campaign she was named to the Horizon League All-Newcomer team and was first team All-Conference three times. She enjoyed a stellar senior campaign in 2004, earning third team All-American honors, while also being named the Horizon League Player of the Year and the League's Most Valuable Player of the League's postseason tournament.