CHICAGO – The UIC women's soccer team (1-1-2) was working on all facets Sunday afternoon at Flames Field as it captured its first victory of the season in a 4-1 win over New Mexico State (0-4-0). The three-goal spread marked the largest margin of victory for the program as the four goals were the most ever scored in a game.
 
Rebeca Pallo led the scoring effort with two goals on the day, becoming the first player to record a multi-goal game in program history. Emily Wauer and Jennifer Novak additionally added to the total. Olivia Everin posted a career-high and program-best three assists in the win, with Jasmin Carrera and Wauer also grabbing helpers.
 
"It was great to see the girls reset their focus from Friday night," said head coach Brian Rigby. "We were better with our build up, more patient picking our moments and our final pass towards the goal created numerous opportunities, which allowed us to score a few goals today.
 
"One of our objectives was to get off to a quicker start and we did that by getting the first goal. Getting to halftime with a lead was very important for us as I felt we did not play well during the first half. Making some tactical adjustments at halftime and executing them was key to our win."
 
The Flames matched their program high in shots on goal with 10 for the second time this season as they collectively put together 16 shots. In addition to Wauer (3), Pallo (2), Everin (2), Novak and Carrera, Kendall Wilde (3), Emily Valentine (2), Bekah Allen and Tamae Douglas contributed to the total.
 
Annie DiCanio earned her first-career win after playing the complete game and making three saves. She backed up by the strong defensive front that kept the Aggies to 12 shots with four on goal.
 
UIC came out from the start of the game and took control, getting two quality chances from Wauer within the first six minutes that were both saved. New Mexico State followed with a trio of shots with one resulting in a save by DiCanio and the other two veering just wide of the net.
 
After a blocked shot by Wilde and an attempt sent high by Carrera, the Flames captured the 1-0 lead in the 25th minute when Carrera dished the ball off to the right side to Everin, who sent it back to the middle of the box to set up Wauer from six yards out with the first goal of the season.
 
UIC's final attempt of the half was just two minutes after the goal when Wilde had a shot saved point blank, while the Aggies had a succession of three attempts from Aileen Galicia.
 
New Mexico State opened the second half with an awarded a penalty kick at the 48:55 mark. Holly Abdelkader took the shot and converted to tie the game at 1-1.
 
A mere 10 seconds later, Everin took the ball down the right side and served it into the middle of the box, where Pallo was waiting to send it home from three yards to regain the lead. The goal would serve as the eventual game-winner.
 
The Flames did not let up as they continued to attack. In a span of 10 minutes, Allen had a header saved, Wilde shot a rocket off the post, Everin was stopped and had her chance ricochet off the crossbar, and Douglas had a near miss that hit the post.
 
In the 71st minute, Everin sent in a corner kick that connect with Novak and she drove the ball into the back of the net from 20 yards. A little over one minute later after another UIC attempt hit the post from Everin, Wauer corralled the ball and sent it off to Pallo, who knocked the ball in for her second of the game.
 
UIC had two more shots in the game, both from Valentine with one coming as a save and the other hooking just wide right. The Aggies took four more shots but had each of their efforts go wide.
 
The Flames will step away from play at Flames Field as they get set to take on SIUE in Edwardsville, Ill., Friday at 7 p.m. CT at Ralph Korte Stadium.