INDIANAPOLIS – The UIC men's soccer team battled to a 0-0 draw in its first exhibition game of the season Tuesday against IUPUI at Michael A. Carroll Stadium. Eighteen Flames earned minutes in the contest, with seven garnering their first in a UIC uniform.
 
The Flames were presented with numerous opportunities in the match and outshot the Jaguars, 18-11. Of their attempts, nine were put on goal by Max Todd (3), Oscar Gonzalez (2), Yuri Domiciano, Gonzalo Romo, Jose Fuentes and Mike Jimenez.
 
Andrew Putna received the start and played the first 45 minutes before Sokratis Vasilas entered at the half and finished the game to earn the shared shutout. Putna needed to make only one save, as Vasilas made two stops.
 
In just the 12th minute, Todd was fouled in the box and awarded a penalty kick but could not convert. UIC continued to be persistent and fired off four shots, three from Gonzalez, over the next three minutes.
 
By the end of the first half, the Flames were up in shots, 9-5, and had five of their attempts reach on goal from Gonzalez (2), Todd, Domiciano and Romo.
 
The first couple chances of the second half went in favor of IUPUI before Todd forced one of his five attempts in the game on goal in the 62nd minute. Over the next 20 minutes, UIC would have four chances, but each shot missed the net.
 
In the final minutes of the match, the Flames put up their biggest threat as Todd and Fuentes had back-to-back attempts saved. With less than 60 seconds to go, Domiciano took a corner kick that eventually allowed Jimenez a swipe at the ball, but his chance was stopped.
 
UIC will close out the preseason on Saturday when it heads to Rogers Park for a crosstown rivalry matchup against Loyola at 7 p.m. CT at the Loyola Soccer Park.