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Community Day Brings Out Huge Crowd At Men's Soccer's Exhibition Finale
Aug. 27, 2010
CHICAGO- A huge crowd filled Flames Field for a sneak peak of the 2010 UIC men's soccer team on Friday night, as the Flames hosted crosstown rival DePaul in their exhibition finale. Friday was Community Day, a collaboration between UIC Athletics and 25th Ward Alderman Danny Solis that included a variety of games, skill sessions with Flames teams, informational tables, and fun for the family that surrounded the non-ticketed preseason contest. Well over 1,000 students, members of the community and soccer fans were in attendance to enjoy the festivities and create an electric college soccer atmosphere a week before the regular season kicks off. "It was a great night at Flames Field as part of Community Day," said UIC head coach Sean Phillips. "We were able to get a lot of members of the UIC community, including students and local residents, and that is a great sign. Thanks go out to all of the fans and people who staffed the tables and festivities around the field, and we are grateful for the chance to get to know our neighbors better. "I also want to thank Alderman Solis for coming out and providing his support," said Phillips. "His work with the City of Chicago is a big reason that the community has come along the way it has in the last 15 years, and UIC Soccer is happy to benefit from that." As for the match itself, a head ball goal moments after a corner kick early in the second half proved to be the decisive tally as a late Flames push came up short in a 1-0 decision in DePaul's favor. UIC nearly struck when Derek Huffman sent in a header in the 37th minute, but keeper Joe Ferrari made a strong save to keep the scoreboard unlit. Both teams battled to a scoreless draw until the 54th minute following DePaul pressure toward the front. Shortly after a corner kick by Willy Lara, the Blue Demons were able to take advantage of a service by Andre Gutierrez that found the cabeza of Alex Mangan, who snapped a ball into goal.
UIC had some near-misses in the second half, as laser shots by Eric Frazier and Slobodan Aleksov with just under 10 minutes remaining required more save work from Ferrari to prevent Flames goals. "Unfortunately we were unable to send this great crowd home with a positive result tonight," said Phillips. "In a tight game statistically and possession-wise, DePaul's experience showed and they were able to make the one play that our team is still trying to find a way to make. "Hopefully by Friday we are able to rectify that situation," Phillips continued. "At the end of the game we probably played our best soccer in the last 15 minutes. The new core of players, which we have been trying to sort out for the whole preseason, is going to have to learn that it has to start from the beginning, especially when play tough opponents like DePaul and Notre Dame. "We are looking forward to Friday and FIU." UIC opens the regular season next Friday, Sept. 3 against FIU at Flames Field. Kickoff is 8:30 p.m., just after a 6 p.m. Flames Field contest between DePaul and Western Illinois. |
