CHICAGO, Ill. – A goal on either side of halftime helped lead UIC to a 2-0 victory over the Northern Illinois University men's soccer team on a rainy Friday night (Oct. 27) at Flames Field. Joshua Torres scored in the 11th minute and Barn Muns added an insurance goal in the 68th minute to lead the Flames to the victory. 

"The conditions didn't help but we were just a little sloppy with the ball in the first half," said NIU head coach Ryan Swan. "Their first goal came from our turnover, which is frustrating. I thought we were better in the second half, but it is difficult when you are chasing the game and then we gave up a second (goal)."

UIC opened the scoring in the 11th minute on a goal from Torres. A low cross from the left wing by Jesus De Vicente found the near post run of Torres who redirected it past NIU goalkeeper Jakub Rojek (Chicago, Ill./Von Steuben) to give the Flames an early advantage. 

Two minutes later, NIU tested UIC goalkeeper Oren Asher for the first time as a free kick from midfield by Taisei Arima (Machida, Japan/Seiryo) skipped in on goal before it was tipped over the crossbar. The ensuing corner went to the back post where it was played into the six-yard box and tipped on frame by Dylan Banker (McHenry, Ill./McHenry West) before it was cleared away by the Flames defense. 

Just before the half-hour mark, Braeden Beard (Olathe, Kan./Olathe Northwest) played Taylor Davis (Wichita Falls, Texas/Wichita Falls) in behind the UIC defense. Davis' shot was saved on the top of the 18 by Asher and the rebound deflected just wide as the home side maintained its one-goal lead.

In the 39th minute, UIC had an excellent opportunity as a slip by a Huskie defender on the wet turf allowed Sidney Warden in alone on Rojek. Warden's effort to chip the ball past Rojek went wide as the Flames took a 1-0 advantage into the interval. 

The first time either goalkeeper was called into action in the second 45 minutes came in the 56th as an initial UIC shot by De Vicente from outside the box was fought off by Rojek, but the rebound fell kindly to Luka Nedic whose header went just wide. 

UIC doubled its lead in the 68th minute. A shot from just inside the corner of the box by Bart Muns took a big deflection that wrong-footed Rojek and nestled just inside the back post to give the Flames a 2-0 advantage. 

A minute later, Luis Hernandez (Dallas, Texas/Lone Star) fired a shot that went just high over the crossbar. The Flames were back on the front-foot after the chance by Hernandez as Rojek made a pair of saves to keep NIU close.

With just under 10 minutes to play, Angel Rodriguez (Elgin, Ill./Ignite Christian Academy) played an excellent through ball to Arima but his shot was parried away by Asher for a corner.

Three minutes from time, Davis had an opportunity at the near post off a low cross from Zachariah Thomas (Burnaby, British Columbia/Moscrop Secondary). The chance was blocked by a Flames defender however as the home team preserved the clean sheet. 

Rojek finished with five saves for the Huskies, Asher made four stops for the Flames. 

NIU will conclude the regular season on Wednesday, Nov. 1, when the Huskies host Bowling Green. Kickoff against the Falcons is scheduled for 7 p.m.