September 16, 2012
CLASSIC WIN
Flames top Western Illinois 1-0

CHICAGO –Midfielder Phil Galounis scored his first goal of the season in the 22nd minute, providing all the scoring UIC would need in to shut out Western Illinois 1-0 during the final game of the UIC Soccer Classic at Flames Field Sunday afternoon. The Flames are a combined 3-0-1 in the UIC Soccer Classic over the past two seasons.

With the win, UIC improved to 2-4-1 on the season, while Western Illinois dropped to 2-4-1. In game three of the Classic, Wisconsin defeated IUPUI, 2-0. Both the Badgers and Flames finished the tournament with a 1-0-1 record.

“This was a good win for us,” said head coach Sean Phillips. “Western Illinois presented a different challenge – they were a bit more difficult to break down. I think some of our tired legs made it a little more difficult as well, but our guys kept plugging along.”

Alexios Fronimos set up Galounis’ game-winner, playing a ball back to the trailing junior, who pulled up about 28 yards out, and finished to the far post after the ball ricocheted off the left post into the back of the net.

“It was nice to see Galounis get that goal today,” Phillips said. “He had the same shot against FIU last Sunday, and the ball hit the inside of both posts and bounced out. Today, the ball hitting the post and going in marked a little bit of deserved luck for Phil and our team.”

UIC goalkeeper Piotr Kikolski made two saves, recording his second shutout of the season. The Flames outshot the Leathernecks 14-6, with 7-3 advantages in both the first and second halves. UIC forced Western Illinois net minder Yves Dietrich into four saves, including a pair of stops on both Ivan Stanisavljevic and Isai Lemus midway through the second half.

Stanisavljevic, who scored UIC’s first goal against IUPUI Friday night, along with defenders Zach Kaleta and Thomas Villamil, were both selected to the UIC Soccer Classic All-Tournament Team.

UIC will open Horizon League play next Saturday (Sept. 22), when the Flames travel to Dayton, Ohio, to take on Wright State beginning at 6 p.m. CST. The Raiders were the preseason favorites to capture the Horizon League Championship.