Nov. 16, 2001

Chicago, Ill- All the UIC women's swimming and diving team needed was to get back home.

After starting the season with four consecutive marks in the loss column on the road, the Flames broke through on Friday night with victories over visiting Northern Michigan (120-117) and Western Illinois (128-112) at Flames Natatorium.

The pair of wins marked head coach Paul Moniak's first at the helm for the Flames.

For the men's team, however, the struggles continued as the Flames plug through the season with limited numbers. Western Illinois defeated the Flames 146-84, to drop UIC to 0-5 on the year.

With his first taste of victory at UIC, Moniak saw several positive points in the meet.

"It's a great feeling," Moniak said. "It's nice to swim fast at home and come away with a couple of wins."

Moniak felt that the fist event of the night, the 400-yard medley relay, propelled the UIC women. UIC took second to Western Illinois, but still finished in 4:09.26, UIC's season best by three seconds.

"The 400 medley relay was a big key and it just got the momentum rolling," Moniak said.

Newcomer Natasha Legarda came up big in her first appearance at home, winning the 200-yard individual medley (2:13.49) and the 200-yard backstroke (2:14.23).

"Legarda had a great meet," said Moniak. "She was very solid in the 200 IM and the 200 back."

The usual suspects of UIC diving performed well once again, with Andrea Bove claiming the three-meter competition. Bove also finished third on the one-meter board.

Shannon Joseph (second in the one-meter, fourth in the three-meter) and Caitlin Carey (fourth in the one-meter, third in the three-meter) rounded out UIC's scoring in the diving events.

"Diving is such an important part of our program and it's a credit to our divers and Coach Larry (Barcheski) and their hard work," Moniak said.

Christine Hare, Stephanie Murphy, Julie-Anne Chico, Shannon Sterne and Alicia Perry added runner-up finishes on the evening.

The men, with just eight athletes competing, were able to garner six first-place finishes on the night. Diver Mike Magee swept the one-meter (227.05) and three-meter (255.15) events, while Paul Torres won the 500-yard freestyle (4:51.72) and 200-yard breaststroke (2:07.86).

Enric Claret added a pair of wins in the 200-yard IM (1:57.69) and the 200-yard fly (1:57.95).

"With the men, we're fighting an uphill battle right now and it's a bit difficult to win the low numbers," said Moniak. "But, we try and motivate the men and get them ready for the individual races, and that will help us."

Both squads will be back in the pool on Saturday, November 17 at 2:00 p.m. when Texas Christian invades Flames Natatorium.