Oct. 21, 2007

Box Score

CHICAGO, Ill. - Matt Spiess scored twice to lead the University of Illinois at Chicago to a 2-0 victory over the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee men's soccer team Sunday night. The Flames (6-4-5, 2-1-3 Horizon) extended their unbeaten streak at home to 15 games with the 2-0 victory over the Panthers (4-10-2, 4-2-1 Horizon).

"I think we caught UIC at their best tonight, which was unfortunate because we had to be at our best today and we were not," UWM head coach Jon Coleman said. "We did not play as well as we would have liked. But, we have to look to the next game. There is still everything to play for to keep us in that top tier of the Horizon League standings."

The Panthers had an opportunity to cut into the deficit late, but UIC goalkeeper Jovan Bubonja made one of his two saves in the match to keep them off the scoreboard.

With about seven minutes left, senior Martin Castro sent a perfect pass into the box off a long free kick, finding senior Steve Bode near the goal. Bode rifled a close-range shot on net, but Bubonja made the save, essentially in self-defense, when the ball hit him right in the chest.

UIC led, 1-0, at the half and took the two-goal advantage at the 71:29 mark when Spiess headed in his second of the game. Both goals were opportunistic chances in the run of play that UIC was able to capitalize on.

"We didn't create really good chances to take advantage of - we had a couple off of set pieces," Coleman said. "You have to give UIC credit. They had some things go there way and caught some breaks. It's a tough place to play and UIC is a good team. They took advantage of their opportunities."

The Panthers did come close on a couple of shots in the first half. Senior Ken Ogorzalek sent a 20-yard shot just high off a free kick near the half that could have possibly tied the game at the time.

Just three minutes into the match, Dombrowski blasted a 30-yard shot that Bubonja got just enough of to punch over the cross bar.

For the game, UIC held the eight-to-four shot advantage, including four-to-two in shots on goal. UWM had seven corner kicks to just two for the Flames, while each team was whistled for 19 fouls. The feisty rivalry match also featured seven yellow cards.

Junior Ryan Germann recorded two saves in defeat, with Bubonja posting his sixth shutout of the season.

The Panthers play just one game next week, heading up to Green Bay on Saturday to play the Phoenix. Game time is set for 7 p.m.