Nov. 9, 2001

Chicago, Ill. - The University of Illinois at Chicago soccer team has landed four players on the All-Horizon League Teams it was announced today by the league office.

Collecting All-Horizon League First Team honors were senior defender Jay DeMerit (Green Bay, Wis./Bay Port) and junior midfielder Bruno Rasich (Lincolnwood, Ill./Niles West). A starter in all 16 games and a three-time all-league first team member, DeMerit has netted three goals and three assists to lead all UIC defensemen in scoring while defensively he and the Flames have held their opponents to less than two goals a game.

Rasich, who was a member of the league's all-newcomer team as a freshman in 1999 and a member of the all-tournament team last fall, has also started in all 16 games and is currently third on the squad in scoring with three goals and a team-best eight assists for 14 points.

Earning Second Team All-League accolades for the second straight season was junior defenseman Joe Morelli (Holly, Mich./Brother Rice). In 16 starts this season, Morelli has tallied one goal, the game-winner in UIC's 3-2 win over Butler, while helping the Flames to a pair of shutout victories over Memphis and Northern Illinois.

Freshman forward Patrick Grange (Albuquerque, NM/Albuquerque) represented UIC on the Horizon League All-Newcomer Team. Grange, who is second on the squad in scoring with nine goals and five assists for 23 points, is the league's top scoring rookie. The youngster has netted at least one point in 12 of UIC's 16 games this season.

The Flames (10-5-1) begin post-season play this weekend as the #3 seed of the Horizon League Tournament. They will host #6 Loyola in a quarterfinal match-up on Saturday, Nov. 10, at 1:00 p.m. at Flames Field.