Sept. 19, 2001

Box Score

Chicago, Ill. - Sophomore Dennis King's (Colona, Ill./United Township) first career hat trick sparked the UIC soccer team to a 6-2 win over Loyola Wednesday afternoon in the home opener for the Flames. It was also UIC's first Horizon League action of the season.

King gave UIC (2-3-0, 1-0-0 Horizon League) a 1-0 lead just 8:16 into the game as he buried a Jake Stasko (New Lenox, Ill./Lincoln-Way) rebound into the far left corner of the goal. After the Ramblers knotted the game a 1-1 on a penalty kick by Brian Contreras, King's second goal of the outing in the 19th minute put the Flames ahead once again, 2-1.

Loyola (1-4-1, 1-1-0 Horizon League), however, came back to tie the game up at 2-2 as Chris Gradilla took advantage of a Flames miscue and fired it into the net in the 27th minute.

After settling on a 2-2 tie at the halftime break, UIC exploded offensively in the second half for four more goals. The Flames' six total goals were the most they've scored since late in the 1999 campaign when they buried that many against Cleveland State in the opening round of the conference tournament.

Rookie Patrick Grange (Albuquerque, NM/Albuquerque) netted his second goal of the year 10 minutes into the final period this afternoon and his tally proved to be the game-winner. Kevin Brady (Elgin, Ill./St. Charles) and Jay DeMerit (Green Bay, Wis./Bay Port) each drew an assist on the goal.

King completed his hat trick in the 78th minute before reserves Brian Daugherty (Aurora, Ill./Waubonsie Valley) and Nate Day (Elgin, Ill./St. Charles) got into the scoring act as each netted their first goals of the season.

Goalkeeper Jeff Kusiciel (Arlington Heights, Ill./Prospect) picked up his second victory of the year after making five saves.

Next up, UIC will welcome Bradley to Flames Field on Saturday, Sept. 22, at 2:00 p.m. for a rematch of last year's NCAA Tournament first round game. The Flames captured a victory in that outing, 1-0.