Oct. 6, 2001

Final Stats

GREEN BAY, WI - The UIC soccer kept its unbeaten streak alive Saturday afternoon as it played to a 1-1 draw against the UW-Green Bay Phoenix. After starting the season out at 0-3, the Flames are 6-0-1 in their last seven outings.

Playing in cold and blustery conditions, UW-Green Bay (1-5-2, 0-0-2 Horizon League) controlled the play earlier on and had a fantastic chance to take a 1-0 lead just 10 minutes into the match. UWGB's Cort McCaughey ripped a shot that got past Flames' goalkeeper Jeff Kusiciel (Arlington Heights, Ill./Prospect) and caromed off the right post and away from the goal.

After playing to a scoreless tie at the halftime break, UIC came out and dominated the play to start the second half. The Phoenix, however, capitalized first as rookie Kyle Sillars sent a pass from deep in the right corner over to Michael Romenesko, who chipped a shot over Kusiciel's head for a 1-0 lead.

The Flames (6-3-1, 1-0-1 Horizon League) kept the pressure on, however, and managed to knot the game at 1-1 with less than six minutes to play in regulation. Following a UWGB foul, UIC was awarded a direct free kick from 25 yards out, which was taken by Dennis King (Colona, Ill./United Township). King's shot was dead-on as the Phoenix Trevor Commons made the save, but the netminder gave up a rebound, which Flames' rookie Patrick Grange (Albuquerque, NM/Albuquerque) buried for his seventh goal of the season.

UIC, which was outshot 20-16, racked up opportunity after opportunity in the two overtime periods, but could not find the goal again. Both Kusiciel and Commons finished up the outing with six saves each. The Flames were also unable to take advantage of 13 corner kicks.

UIC returns home on Thursday, Oct. 11, at 2:00 p.m. for its final non-conference outing of the season. The Flames will then conclude the year with five straight Horizon League contests starting next Sunday, Oct. 14, at Cleveland State.